Chapter 214: The Destiny

The Mó Dū, production team of "New Shanghai Beach"

As a well-known remake, this drama is directed by renowned filmmaker Gao Xixi, stars veteran actor Li Xuejian, and features the popular young male lead Huang Xiaoming and female lead Sun Li, with Huang Haibo, who has developed well over the past two years, also joining—drawing considerable public attention.

Interestingly, Huang Xiaoming, the male lead of "New Shanghai Beach," is also the male lead of "The Legend of the Condor Heroes."

The female lead Sun Li and the second male lead Huang Haibo previously portrayed the unit female lead and one of the main characters, respectively, in "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng."

A full-blown "Condor vs. Lu Xiaofeng" battle has already erupted within the production team itself!

Thus, riding the wave of this rivalry, numerous media outlets have come to interview.

Huang Haibo, recently busy with promotional activities, is temporarily on leave and not on set, so the media's focus is primarily on Huang Xiaoming and Sun Li.

Sun Li is relatively unscathed—she was merely the unit female lead in "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng."

Who wins or loses in the "Condor vs. Lu Xiaofeng" battle has little to do with her; a few polite remarks suffice, and the media can't pressure her.

Huang Xiaoming, however, cannot so easily evade scrutiny.

As the male lead, he is the core of "The Legend of the Condor Heroes"' creative team, and under this circumstance of two production teams clashing, he cannot back down.

Yet as an artist, Huang Xiaoming must maintain his image, avoid offending anyone, and steer clear of traps set by reporters.

For Huang Xiaoming, still under thirty, newly famous for only a few years, and not yet fully evolved into a seasoned veteran, barely managing these interviews left him utterly drained.

After returning to the makeup room to remove his makeup and greeting a few acquaintances, Huang Xiaoming headed back to the hotel.

Before he even finished showering, he received a call from his agent, outlining a series of promotional activities for "The Legend of the Condor Heroes."

Huang Xiaoming listened carefully—he currently enjoys considerable fame thanks to the "Emperor of Han" series and numerous other dramas, and in 2003 was even named one of the Four New Young Male Leads of the mainland.

But he knows well that the "Emperor of Han" series alone is insufficient to distinguish him from other popular young male leads.

So he pushed himself to the limit, outcompeting fellow New Four Young Male Lead Nie Yuan, to secure the role in Zhang Jizhong's "The Legend of the Condor Heroes."

The results proved he made the right move.

Even before the TV series aired, continuous exposure had already significantly boosted his fame, enabling him to partner with Huayi Brothers and land a role in the hundred-million-dollar production "The Banquet," while also securing the promising drama "New Shanghai Beach."

If all goes smoothly, the consecutive releases of "The Legend of the Condor Heroes," "The Banquet," and "New Shanghai Beach" will propel his career forward by a great leap.

With Huayi Brothers' backing, he could even ascend to top-tier status and have a real chance at claiming the title of mainland's number one young male lead.

The future looked bright, which should have made Huang Xiaoming very happy—he was indeed happy—but even the most perfect career path casts two shadows.

One shadow is the woman he once longed to chase.

Though he has now developed extremely well, compared to that old classmate, he still falls far short—not to mention surpassing him, he lacks confidence even in matching him now.

The other shadow stems from the heartbreaking summer night of 2002, during the filming of "My Fair Princess 3."

To be honest, Huang Xiaoming had failed to win over girls before; back then, chasing his old classmate was even more miserable and humble.

But that time hurt him so deeply.

One reason was that Huang Xiaoming felt the other man had stolen his love—Qin Lan wasn't indifferent to him; their relationship was simply developing too slowly, and if he had continued patiently, he believed he could have succeeded.

Then suddenly, a man surnamed Yan appeared—he had no idea when the two had become involved.

He had pursued Qin Lan for no short time and knew her circle well; he was certain no such person had ever been in her life before.

Later, after asking others, he confirmed the two had only recently met—in Hengdian.

He had been chasing her for ages, hadn't even touched her hand, yet the two of them, after meeting just days prior, were already kissing passionately.

"I fucking—"

Another reason he felt deeply unjust was that the man surnamed Yan was then unknown, with no money or power.

Aside from being slightly taller, slightly more muscular, and slightly younger, every other aspect was equal—or even clearly in Huang Xiaoming's favor.

Yet Qin Lan stubbornly chose him.

Even after "Emperor of Han" became a hit and Huang Xiaoming became famous and influential, he still tried to prove his charm—but Qin Lan still chose Yan Li, and even turned down a role in "Dragon Ticket," a project she was supposed to do with him.

To be stolen from by someone who, in every way, was inferior to him—that was unbearable.

That taste, Huang Xiaoming would never forget!

And what came after was even more unforgettable.

Huang Xiaoming had initially tried to make peace with it: Qin Lan was blind, abandoning a potential star for a minor actor—she'd regret it someday.

Then Huang Xiaoming saw that man surnamed Yan go from a minor actor to a millionaire overnight.

Then he became a producer for multiple major productions, then a billionaire, and now a multi-billionaire business tycoon and industry heavyweight.

Huang Xiaoming was a potential star, yes—but that man was the investor behind the potential star.

He didn't know if Qin Lan ever regretted it—after all, that bastard was a playboy.

But Huang Xiaoming understood: even if Qin Lan ever regretted it, the reason would have nothing to do with him.

A man inferior to him in every way stole his love in obscurity, then swiftly surpassed him—like slapping him repeatedly, front and back.

So although the two had had no contact in recent years, Yan Li remained an inescapable shadow in Huang Xiaoming's heart.

This was the "Condor vs. Lu Xiaofeng" battle; Huang Xiaoming said nothing aloud, but secretly hoped "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" would crush "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" utterly.

Although he knew this drama would inflict little real damage on Yan Li—even that man had already recouped his investment and made a profit.

But even just a public relations humiliation would be enough to give him quiet satisfaction.

Daydreaming wasn't enough—he decided to watch "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng," then create a fake account to vent online.

He wouldn't watch it on TV—he wouldn't give it any ratings.

Huang Xiaoming pulled out his laptop and searched for online resources of the already-aired "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng."

After searching everywhere, he found Tudou. om.

Huang Xiaoming: "..."

He knew Tudou had Yan Li's investment, but he had no choice—other video sites clearly faced targeted anti-piracy crackdowns.

Their clips were scattered, low-quality, nowhere near as clear or smooth as Tudou's.

He could use some players to find resources, but he wanted to read audience comments, so he ultimately chose Tudou.

It was free anyway—he might as well be freeloaders off the man surnamed Yan.

Huang Xiaoming comforted himself, opened Tudou. om— "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" was featured on the homepage, with high viewership, cumulative plays exceeding 2 million.

Keep in mind, internet users in China numbered just over 100 million then, and most preferred watching dramas on TV or through players.

Tudou's user base surged after the "Wuji" incident earlier in the year and celebrity endorsements like Yan Li's, but given market size, its registered users were still only a few million.

Moreover, data wasn't inflated back then—even if it was, the inflation was minimal.

Under these conditions, "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" accumulating hundreds of thousands of plays in just a few days was already an impressive figure.

Huang Xiaoming didn't understand the true value of this viewership, but he knew how to read comments.

The dense sea of audience and netizen comments beneath "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" revealed the drama's explosive popularity and excellent reputation.

【Zhang Zhilin's performance made me retract my earlier words—he portrays Lu Xiaofeng better than he did Guo Jing, by a full Chi Shao Shang level.】

【Watching online, five episodes aired consecutively—I finished the entire case in one go, far more satisfying than TV.】

【Casting was excellent, suspense elements well-executed, and even the fight scenes exceeded my expectations.】

【Personally, the best Gu Long drama of the past decade.】

【Agreed—Jiao Enjun's Li Xunhuan and Huang Haibo's Shen Lang were perfectly portrayed, but the plot of earlier dramas was questionable; judging by these few episodes, this drama's quality far surpasses "Little Li Feidao" and "The Legend of the Condor Heroes."】

【Hua Manlou is so handsome, Ximen Chuixue is handsome too, the actresses are beautiful—such good-looking men and women are a treat to watch.】

【Yan Li, regardless of other things, has an exceptional eye for casting—"The Seven Fairies" was full of handsome men and beautiful women; I checked the cast list for "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng"—they're all good-looking too.】

【...】

Huang Xiaoming found these comments exaggerated—wondering if Tudou was manipulating reviews.

So he opened the first episode of "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng," determined to watch the drama properly.

"The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" has nine units, each spanning four to five episodes.

Since the first unit introduces the setting and character development while establishing the drama's overall tone—suspense + wuxia—it has more episodes, with all four main characters appearing to varying degrees.

Huang Xiaoming had never read the original "Lu Xiaofeng" novel, but he'd seen some related adaptations.

He felt little connection to Lu Xiaofeng himself, but Ren Quan's portrayal of Hua Manlou was elegant, refined, and gentle as jade.

Based on his experience as an actor, he could guarantee this performance would stand out.

The plot, as some comments said, was brisk and powerful, with suspense well-crafted—he hadn't guessed the killer at all.

Many praised the action scenes, but Huang Xiaoming didn't find them exceptional—merely good. What truly impressed him was the costume and makeup design.

Especially the costumes and hairstyles were exquisitely crafted; though sometimes lacking the realism and "jianghu" aura of "The Legend of the Condor Heroes," the actors themselves were undeniably stunning.

Especially Hua Manlou and Ximen Chuixue—one in elegant, refined robes, the other a white-clad swordsman—both dazzlingly handsome.

Even Huang Haibo, a fellow actor not known for his looks, seemed to have become more attractive in this drama.

If costume and makeup are the main selling point, no matter how good they are, they're useless—like a useless side dish.

But if a drama has other strengths, and is enhanced by exquisite costume and makeup, its overall quality instantly rises.

When quality rises, viewers feel comfortable watching, and unconsciously raise their evaluation of the drama.

In 2006, due to budget and team limitations, many dramas—even popular hits—were still criticized as "cheap" and "rough."

Zhang Dahu's Jin Yong dramas were widely acclaimed, even rivaling the nostalgic TVB versions; their high production quality was one key reason.

Huang Xiaoming had seen the preview clips of "The Legend of the Condor Heroes."

Objectively speaking, he felt the two dramas were evenly matched, and in some aspects, "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" even surpassed it.

"..."

Huang Xiaoming watched with fast-forward—five episodes per unit, the sixth episode had just begun, but plenty of hooks were already set.

He searched online and found Tudou's playback was one day slower than TV—meaning "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" had already aired eight episodes.

As for its performance...

Huang Xiaoming didn't need to check—he already knew, as reporters had specifically told him during interviews.

The Anhui TV and Beijing TV were among the top three and top five of their respective time slots, while Anhui TV surged to number one the day after its premiere and has held the top spot ever since.

Don't think it's unbelievable—Anhui TV is currently at its peak, and its ratings have always been robust.

Although its overall scale qualifies it as a second-tier broadcaster, its entertainment achievements stand out, often outperforming first-tier networks; at times, it's the only provincial channel capable of competing with Hunan TV in variety shows and dramas.

Thus, although Anhui TV co-broadcasts with Beijing and Shanghai's two first-tier networks, it outperforms them both—unexpected, yet perfectly logical.

With all three networks occupying the top ranks, "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" achieved an extremely high market share, surpassing 20% within two days of airing.

In terms of ratings, though not as explosive as "My Own Swordsman," its performance was still impressive.

Anhui TV, the highest-ranked, now averages a 3. 7 rating; at this trend, breaking 4 is a sure thing, and breaking 5 is not out of the question.

This figure on a provincial broadcaster is nearly enough to contend for its annual championship.

With good fortune, it might even secure a top position in the annual rankings.

As for the annual ratings champion—that's monopolized by CCTV; don't even think about it.

Huang Xiaoming's data and channels are limited; he can't pinpoint exactly where "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" stands now, but he can be certain of one thing.

This drama has become a hit.

————

"The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" is a hit!

This seems to be something many anticipated.

The overwhelming promotion and endless topics made it one of this year's most-watched dramas; in fact, to some extent, it was already popular before it even aired.

What people are more curious about is how far it will go and the quality of the drama itself.

Judging by ratings, reputation, influence, and discussion volume, "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" has performed brilliantly.

Though it doesn't match "My Own Swordsman," it can still be called one of the hottest dramas of 2006's opening.

And since the drama is still in its initial broadcast phase, its overall impact will continue to grow with time, reruns, and accumulated viewership.

Compared to the obvious data, what truly surprised people about "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" was its exceptional reputation.

Douban, newly established last year, saw many users give "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" high ratings.

"The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" holds a Douban score of 8. , surpassing Zhang Hu Zi's best-received "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" (8. ).

"The Smiling, Proud Wanderer" and "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" fared even worse.

"The Legend of the Condor Heroes" scored the lowest at just 6. ; "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer" saw a slight rise in reputation as Zhang Hu Zi's Jin Yong dramas grew in influence over the years, currently holding a 7. score.

To be fair, the reason "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" scores so high is twofold.

Yes, its quality is excellent, but the biggest reason is the excellent contrast provided by its competitors.

Zhang Hu Zi's Jin Yong adaptations are well-made, but the TVB versions have massive fanbases; other Jin Yong adaptations also include many classic gems.

But Gu Long's adaptations are an entirely different matter.

Gu Long's high-quality screen adaptations are few, and a large proportion are early works with limited influence and outdated aesthetics that don't always suit modern audiences.

And the recent Gu Long adaptations—"Little Li Feidao," "Xiao Shi Yi Lang," "The Legend of the Condor Heroes," "Little Fish and Hua Wuque."

It's not that these dramas are poor in quality or ratings, but they've drawn significant controversy, especially since many plotlines have nothing to do with Gu Long's original works.

As a result, many view them as semi-original adaptations—or simply generic wuxia dramas—rather than true Gu Long adaptations.

In this context, "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" emerged unexpectedly.

Beyond objective factors like quality, what moved many Gu Long fans most was this:

This drama has the Gu Long flavor!

Even if the flavor isn't perfect, even if it's only a hint, it's enough to bring tears to the eyes of fans worn down by countless distorted adaptations.

On Douban's comment section, Gu Long book fans repeatedly mention two words: 【Sincerity】.

Many original book fans don't ask for much.

Especially fans who've been repeatedly betrayed—just having the production team respect the source material satisfies them; if they further adapt and perform it thoughtfully based on the original, that's a sincere work.

No matter the production quality, if sincerity is present, it earns special bonus points.

When Yan Li began filming "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng," criticism was loud, and many book fans vowed they'd never watch it.

But now, the situation has reversed—original fans are lavishing praise on this drama.

They expected dung, but got cake—and with other "dung" surrounding it.

This unexpected high surprise has made "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng"'s reputation astonishingly strong.

Netizens raved, and the media gave it high praise.

Pang Yidian, a reporter for the Southern Metropolis Daily, praised the drama and its production team extensively.

【……The reason "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" succeeded is first and foremost its excellent casting: Zhang Zhilin possesses both acting skill and appearance, naturally portraying Lu Xiaofeng's free-spirited charm; Ren Quan embodies the elegant gentleman, complementing Zhang Zhilin perfectly—one comic, one serious; Yan Kuan captures Ximen Chuixue's coldness……】

【……Also, we must praise producer Yan Li. I believe many Gu Long adaptations suffer from inconsistency due to reckless, arbitrary changes; but in this version of "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng," the producer and screenwriter showed remarkable restraint, avoiding excessive alterations……】

【……Gu Long's original work was highly successful, proving the story itself is strong; any change carries risk. Gu Long is a master of wuxia—how many can rewrite better than he wrote? So a change often ruins it, becoming a bad drama……】

【……The high-paced, episodic format avoids being bogged down by a rigid main plot—each episode is a self-contained mystery, clean and satisfying for viewers……】

【……Yan Li himself stepped out to debate Zhang Jizhong, saving the production team massive promotional funds and channeling all money into the drama itself—every scene, every frame reveals the crew's dedication……】

【……Below, I'll briefly summarize the several episodes of "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" already aired……】

Hengdian Hotel

Yan Li read the online article and sent a screenshot to his secretary Hu Ya.

"Was this article paid for?"

Hu Ya quickly replied in the affirmative—Pang Yidian is now a long-term collaborator of Yi'an, having repeatedly championed Yi'an in various areas.

Besides this article, he's written two blogs.

One praised Yan Li as a rising producer pushing forward the wave; the other praised Yi'an's actors, such as Zhang Zhilin and Fan Xiaopan's portrayal of Xue Bing/Gong Sun Dama.

During a drama's peak broadcast period, positive press releases are inevitable.

If you don't pay for them, you won't automatically get fair evaluations from random netizens—you might just get sabotage from competitors.

Yan Li nodded, telling Hu Ya to tell Pang Yidian: praise him as much as he wants, but don't subtly flatter Yan Li in the articles—he won't pay extra.

Hu Ya went to deliver the message and quickly returned with the response.

Pang Yidian: 【I'm not kowtowing to your boss Yan; this article is objective. I believe the greatest contributor to this drama is your producer Yan Li—any positive evaluation inevitably circles back to him.】

Yan Li: "……"

Such straightforward, perceptive people are rare—raise his honorarium, don't let honest people suffer……

After reading the positive reviews, Yan Li searched for negative ones.

No drama can please everyone, nor can it be without flaws.

Yan Li still valued quality criticism—it could help Yi'an's future production and development.

Negative reviews came in all shapes: some found the mystery elements too simple, others disliked the casting, some thought the plot dull, others said it was overhyped and didn't live up to its reputation, and some simply called it a terrible drama.

I hate it—it's garbage!

Yan Li was long accustomed to such comments; he ignored the meaningless ones and focused on the valuable ones—then he found one.

"The Gap in Vision: Why Yan Li Falls Short of Zhang Hu Zi—Self-Interest Over National Sentiment"

Inside, the article compared him to Zhang Hu Zi and even Gu Long and Jin Yong, using grand narratives and loaded labels to belittle him.

Yan Li wasn't angry—it was clearly Zhang Hu Zi's PR piece—but the writing was good, so he checked the pen name.

"Yi Dian Fang—this name sounds familiar."

Yan Li sent a message to Hu Ya: pause the honorarium raise for now—I'll check with the system later. If he's playing both sides, I'll deal with that fat bastard.

Ignoring this minor incident, Yan Li roughly compared the positive and negative reviews of "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng"—far better than he expected.

He lit a cigarette, relaxed, and quietly calculated.

The data is still rising; once the initial broadcast ends and peaks, reruns and local channels will follow, further expanding its influence.

By then, "The Return of the Condor Heroes" should be airing too. Even the best solo performance is still solo—only when both dramas clash will the real spectacle begin.

Spectacle means money!

The fiercer the rivalry between the two dramas, the higher the subsequent licensing prices.

Local channels are scattered and hard to track, but if satellite broadcasters continue to break per-episode sales records during the initial run, then under such hot conditions, shouldn't second- and third-round sales also aim to break records?

What about the still-undone Hong Kong, Taiwan, and overseas rights? Shouldn't a blockbuster deserve proper respect?

Earlier, Yan Li estimated both dramas could sell for over 80 million each—that was optimistic; achieving it requires some luck.

But selling both for a combined 150 million? Yan Li now believes it's within reach.

Roughly: 150 million total, 75 million each.

"The Return of the Condor Heroes" is simple: 16% distribution share means Yi'an gets 12 million.

"The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" is more complex: subtract distribution share, then take 40%—roughly 35 to 38 million.

Combined, Yi'an's revenue approaches 50 million; after costs, expenses, and taxes, Yan Li's personal share is nearly 30 million.

"It's just not as profitable as the stock market."

Yan Li increasingly understood why many corporate bosses, seeing a bull market, mortgaged company assets or even diverted corporate funds into stocks.

Few can resist the temptation of "easy money" earned so quickly.

He constantly warned himself, thought clearly, and had enough security—yet even he couldn't help complaining when seeing the gap.

Those bosses who earn less and face greater pressure, once they taste sweetness, will inevitably become greedy—and won't stop until they're bloodied and broken.

Pushing aside those wild thoughts, Yan Li wondered whether he should add fuel to the "Phoenix vs. Condor" battle.

75 million doesn't sound as good as 80 million; 1. billion isn't as lucky as 1. billion.

His verbal sparring with Zhang Hu Zi has nearly run its course—further arguing would require outright insults, and both sides are already tired.

The tension between the two dramas is thick—anyone who knows anything understands they're mortal enemies.

Just follow the plan step by step, wait for the explosion—fanning the flames now won't help much.

Yan Li pondered whether he could stir up some gossip.

Himself? Forget it. The Investiture of the Gods had no such heat as a Phoenix-Dragon battle; the real selling point would be him and Fan Xiaopang—no need to use it yet.

Besides, their screen time was minimal, and they had no scenes together; forced hype might not work well.

Maybe try other actors—like Zhang Zhilin's breakup? No, don't break up that couple.

Better to target Yan Kuan or Ren Quan, maybe romantically involved with some female cast member.

Best would be Ren Quan—he's more famous, his gossip draws more attention, and given his situation, it wouldn't involve jealousy over a girlfriend.

Also, we should stir up some gossip around The Legend of the Condor Heroes.

Yan Li personally called Hu Zi: a rising young male lead and a rising young female lead, falling in love on set—a famous martial arts couple, what a perfect selling point! But The Legend of the Condor Heroes kept rejecting it outright.

Does he think selling this drama is easy?

The crew won't cooperate with anything—how's he supposed to sell it? How will anyone make money?!

Hu Zi, caught off guard, was scolded by Yan Li until he couldn't speak, finally only managing to say:

"The woman won't agree—she's a pure, innocent girl; gossip would damage her too much."

Does he not know the benefits of gossip?!

Li Yapeng and Xu Nuo stirred up gossip for The Smiling, Proud Wanderer; no need to hype The Legend of the Condor Heroes—the leads just got together directly.

The tent incident in The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils was rumored with every detail; the crew wasn't entirely innocent—Chen Hao, who played Azi, had rumors linking her to Hu Jun and Lin Zhiling.

Now with The Legend of the Condor Heroes, a wuxia drama centered on romance—if he could've stirred gossip, he'd have done it already.

"Innocent girl…"

Yan Li was speechless: "Even innocent girls can fall in love—didn't the Little Dragon Girl come down to earth?"

"I don't care. This is a project worth tens of millions—do we really have to listen to just her? Do you have any sense of the bigger picture? If you can't handle it, I'll do it myself."

Hu Zi was startled—he feared Yan Li didn't understand the stakes, and hinted subtly: the girl had powerful backers on the billionaire list.

"So what if he's on the billionaire list? Even the richest must have reason."

Yan Li sneered: "If he won't allow hype, and it costs us hundreds of millions in lost revenue, will he cover the loss? Old Zhang, don't side with outsiders—we're responsible to the investors."

Hu Zi's beard bristled—this little brat was pushing too far. I'm older than your father, how dare you call me Old Zhang?

"Fine, if you're so great, you do it. It's just gossip—nobody knows how much effect it'll have. Is it worth angering a billionaire?"

"Kid, you're young and reckless. I know you're not afraid, but business is about harmony—no need to fight over this. There are other ways to solve it."

Hearing this, Yan Li calmed down: "Then what do you suggest?"

Hu Zi paused, then said: "Alright, we'll still stir gossip, but focus on the man—say Huang Xiaoming secretly loves her, but she doesn't return his feelings. That creates buzz without heavily damaging her innocent image."

It'd make Huang Xiaoming look bad…

Yan Li nodded—who looked bad didn't matter to him; he only cared about the gossip's effect and profit.

If Huang Xiaoming got screwed, even better—he knew the kid had been whispering behind his back.

"Then I leave it to you, Old Zhang. I'll wait for your good news."

Yan Li hung up sharply. Hu Zi stared at his phone, slowly realizing.

"Did that kid just set me up?"

That kid played the business game better than he did—he didn't believe Yan Li didn't know Liu Yifei's background. All that bluster was just bluffing, forcing him to compromise.

"Cunning bastard."

Hu Zi muttered curses, but understood Yan Li wanted the project's success—and that benefited him too. He couldn't hold things back.

After weighing his words, Hu Zi pulled out his phone and made a call.

"Little Li… I can't stop him. That kid's too ruthless."

"Listen, he said if you don't agree, he'll publicly confess to Yifei himself. With his rotten reputation, if she's linked to him, it's over…"

"... lright, don't worry—I won't let Yifei suffer. I'll send you drafts for approval first."

"..."

After hanging up, Hu Zi smirked triumphantly—old ginger is still the spiciest. I do the work, you take the blame.

As for Huang Xiaoming—he had no powerful patron behind him, and still wanted to film his The Legend of the Condor Heroes. He could control him easily.

He gave orders directly—just make the articles sound more positive if needed…

…

Soon, someone leaked that Huang Xiaoming secretly loved Liu Yifei, but she was too young and didn't want romance, so she politely refused.

Huang Xiaoming, helpless, could only silently protect her as an older brother—once, to save her, he risked his life diving into water, deeply emotional.

"Ugh~"

Yan Li gagged—was this a leak or a romance novel?

The old bastard wanted to have his cake and eat it too—wanted gossip but didn't want to offend anyone.

Still, rumors had once claimed Huang Xiaoming secretly loved Xiao Yanzi and couldn't have her—now he was "secretly in love" with Liu Yifei, silently guarding her.

The King of Secret Love (Huang)?!

Yan Li monitored the public reaction—everyone focused on Huang Xiaoming; the woman slipped away unnoticed.

Reactions to his behavior were split: supporters, and more numerous critics.

The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils and The Legend of the Sword and Fairy had brought Liu Yifei many fans; because of her innocent image, her fans were extremely sensitive to this.

An old man nearly ten years her senior dared to lust after their goddess.

If you meet a fortune-teller on the street, what the hell are you?!

Huang Xiaoming was targeted by a firestorm—his personal forum was overrun. Of course, his fans weren't passive—they called themselves the Ming Cult, fighting tooth and nail against Liu Yifei's fans.

Fan wars erupted, with heavy public discussion across all platforms, and media outlets picked it up.

Yan Li nodded in satisfaction—whether the gossip was good or bad, the publicity had worked.

Though it looked like some fans might abandon the drama, it would attract far more casual viewers. Casual viewers boosted ratings, and even those who abandoned it might still talk it up.

Compared to traditional, tame gossip, this approach was fresh—maybe even more effective.

Yan Li even considered copying it—adding a secret love plot for The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng's gossip target.

But Ren Quan flatly refused, thinking it too humiliating.

Besides, his gossip target was Yang Xue—because Yang Xue was linked to Wang Jing, and with anyone, gossip was gossip; Ren Quan would naturally favor his fellow disciple.

Yang Xue didn't have Liu Yifei's fanbase—adding a secret love plot might backfire.

Yan Li was convinced. Ren Quan and Yang Xue's gossip was launched—but the effect was far weaker than The Legend of the Condor Heroes.

No choice—they lacked fame and popularity, and the topic had nowhere near the same traction.

Forced to add scenes, Yan Li had Fan Xiaopang play "matchmaker" for them—she knew both well, so her involvement was plausible.

Adding Fan Xiaopang still didn't improve things much—still no explosive topic.

Yan Li thought and thought, then gritted his teeth and stomped his foot—he'd do it himself.

Why did Fan Xiaopang play matchmaker for Ren and Yang? Because Yan Li was lecherous—she feared he'd target Yang Xue, so she stepped in to defuse his lust.

The logic was solid, the hook was there—though Yan Li's reputation took a hit.

But he didn't care—he was already in ruins; might as well cash in.

Worth it!

Besides Ren Quan and Yang Xue, Yan Li also spoke with An Yixuan, who appeared in The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng.

He'd just learned that An Yixuan had once been linked to Huang Xiaoming during filming of Emperor Han Wudi 3.

Though she claimed they were just friends, Yan Li thought—if they were friends, why not "reuse the old tune"? It could create synergy between the two productions.

Besides An Yixuan, he also had his eye on Sun Li—they were filming The New Shanghai, perfect for "love on set."

One man, three women—plenty of topics!

But only An Yixuan showed mild interest; Sun Li firmly refused, citing personal and company reasons.

Understandable—she was a rising star, didn't need gossip, and only played a supporting role in The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng—no need to sacrifice herself for it.

Huang Xiaoming also resisted—he was an actor, an idol, not as reckless as Yan Li.

Secretly loving Liu Yifei was fine—it never happened, and he could later play the "good brother, good sister" card, take a few insults, but it wouldn't hurt his core fanbase—he could even market himself as a tender, loyal man.

But linking to multiple actresses? That changed everything—severely damaged his image and reputation.

He was the Ming Cult leader, not the Playboy Cult leader!

With the parties unwilling to cooperate, Yan Li couldn't force them—he could only reluctantly give up.

He also complained about Huang Xiaoming's fans' names—"cult members," "cult leader"—turning a fan club into something like a cult.

His own fans were down-to-earth: "Salt Grains"—clever pun, playful.

As for "Ice Riding Captain" or whatever nonsense—absolutely not. Pfft, who the hell do you think you are…

————

PS: (4000/9000)

(End of Chapter)