[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment":3,"chapter-the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-219":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Intelligence King of Chinese Entertainment",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2260522,4411,"Chapter 219: Son, of the Yan family","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-219",219,"\u003Cp>The atmosphere fell silent for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan and Fan Xiaopang exchanged glances but said nothing; Zhang Hong and Old Yan dared not speak more; Wu Maowen and Yan Xin huddled in the corner, while Auntie merely watched like an audience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Grandma Yan, relying on her age and status, who stepped forward to break the silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked kindly at Fan Xiaopang: “Girl, you’re Jin Suo, aren’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mentioning Jin Suo was a taboo for others, but not for this old lady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang’s smile lit up again, her voice sweet and obedient: “Yes, Grandma. My real name is Fan Bingbing. Please call me Bingbing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Grandma Yan breaking the silence, Zhang Hong and Old Yan also came to their senses—no matter what, guests had come to visit; they couldn’t leave them hanging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So both sides began exchanging pleasantries and introducing themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, in Fan Xiaopang’s plan, her self-introduction tag was supposed to be [Yan Li’s girlfriend].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Dong Xuan was watching from the side, and after much hesitation, she still chose to stay silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang didn’t mention her relationship with Yan Li, and the Yan family didn’t foolishly ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just moments ago, Dong Xuan had directly introduced herself as Yan Li’s girlfriend; now another publicly recognized girlfriend appeared, and the atmosphere was already awkward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one would spell it out—they all understood implicitly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they did spell it out, two girlfriends laid bare before them, how would they even host them? Besides, no one knew Yan Li’s true feelings—what if someone said the wrong thing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After chatting with the Yan family, Fan Xiaopang finally greeted Dong Xuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan gave a cool reply, then looked at Fan Xiaopang: “Uncle and Aunt just arrived, and you’re already here—you’re fast.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang smoothed her hair: “I’m just a step behind you, that’s all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the surface she sounded calm, but inside she was gritting her teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That bastard really dotes on her—he let Dong Xuan come to the family’s home on his very first day, yet gave her not even a hint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luckily, she’d bribed someone to learn of the Yan family’s arrival in Beijing, then drove nonstop from Baoshi Yixian straight to the capital, piecing together clues from Yan Li’s scattered words to find the right place. Even if she was a step late, at least she wouldn’t let Dong Xuan take all the advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Fan Xiaopang wouldn’t say any of this in front of Dong Xuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the contrary, she’d loudly claim she’d learned everything from Yan Li—even take credit for the house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Grandma, Uncle, Auntie—what do you think of this house? Knowing you’re not used to apartments, when Yan Li bought the sihe courtyard, I strongly recommended this one—it’s quiet amid the bustle, right next to Houhai and Shichahai, perfect for living and leisure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan’s eyes widened slightly, her heart sinking—was this house bought by Fan Xiaopang and Yan Li together?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d only just learned about this house two days ago from Yan Li—how intimate had this fox and that dog-man become already?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Maowen and Yan Xin were also stunned; the former, as Yan Li’s close aide, knew almost everything about him, and the latter managed this very house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How had they never heard Fan Xiaopang was connected to this house?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Xin’s mind worked faster—he shook his head at Wu Maowen, mouthing silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bluffing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Fan Xiaopang and Yan Li knew the truth of this matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li wouldn’t—and had no reason to—expose her; so she could naturally take credit before Zhang Hong and the others, while simultaneously undermining Dong Xuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Fan Xiaopang now subtly take control of the conversation, while Dong Xuan grew quiet, even slightly flustered, even Wu Maowen—who’d been rooting for her—couldn’t help but shake his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cultivating inner qi was fine, but combat skills couldn’t be weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even seasoned martial masters had been killed by unknown novices with a single knife thrust—no matter how strong your inner power, if you can’t fight, you’re just a showpiece.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan’s performance against Fan Xiaopang was even weaker than Qin Lan’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Wu Maowen was mistaken—Dong Xuan wasn’t being weak toward Fan Xiaopang; she simply felt the timing and context were wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In front of Grandma Yan, Zhang Hong, and Old Yan, on their first meeting, whoever lost composure first lost points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention she was playing the role of the gentle, considerate daughter-in-law—openly fighting Fan Xiaopang would shatter her persona.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan even suspected Fan Xiaopang wanted her to fight!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang was a celebrity, and over the past few years, the public image of her was: dominant, gorgeous, scheming, dangerous, and surrounded by controversy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, this persona was terrible for a daughter-in-law—especially compared to Dong Xuan’s fully stacked virtuous wife and mother-in-law buff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To break the deadlock, she needed to provoke Dong Xuan into a fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, she wasn’t a good persona to begin with; everyone would accept her fighting over Yan Li.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if Dong Xuan fought back, her persona collapsed—then the Yan family would see: both were the same kind, and might even feel betrayed and disgusted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang could not only erase the persona disadvantage, but possibly even win goodwill by posing as genuine and down-to-earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Dong Xuan chose to endure, holding firm to her sweet, well-behaved daughter-in-law image.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, she even hoped Fan Xiaopang would openly provoke and bully her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That way, she could use her own gentleness and thoughtfulness to highlight Fan Xiaopang’s arrogance and rudeness, widening the persona gap further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Fan Xiaopang wasn’t stupid—since Dong Xuan wouldn’t take the bait, she wouldn’t attack either; she simply kept showcasing herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And after brief contact, she noticed Grandma Yan seemed to favor her more—so she redoubled her efforts to flatter Grandma Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan, too, was perceptive—she sensed Zhang Hong’s warmth toward her, and began chatting more with Zhang Hong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh no!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Yan’s heart jolted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These two... clearly hadn’t done their homework—they didn’t understand that Yan Li’s mother and grandmother were only outwardly harmonious; taking sides now would easily offend the other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without lingering, he wandered out and found Wu Maowen: “Has Yan Li arrived?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. My brother’s at the X Bureau in a meeting—he can’t leave yet. He’ll be back later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earlier, watching the live stream via Wu Maowen’s phone, Yan Li realized today wouldn’t spiral out of control, so he’d stayed to finish the meeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s got guts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Yan truly admired his son’s composure—two girlfriends had shown up, and he was still in a meeting? No wonder this kid got rich.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grandpa, don’t worry—it’s actually good they’re not fighting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Xin had been panicking earlier, but now seeing Dong and Fan peacefully coexisting, he grew optimistic again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I hope so.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Yan still felt uneasy—honestly, facing these two... daughters-in-law—one a superstar, one a university teacher—and with his son absent, this restaurant chef father-in-law couldn’t help but feel insecure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhang Hong adapted to her new role well—probably from studying at home in the countryside, she’d mentally prepared thoroughly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So what if they were a superstar and a university teacher? Her son was a billionaire, a rising business magnate...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long chat in the main house, Fan Xiaopang told Grandma Yan and the others she was going to the restroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After she left, Dong Xuan thought for a moment, then also said she needed to use the restroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Hong panicked, instinctively grabbing Dong Xuan’s arm: “Xiao Dong, Yan Li’s coming back soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan understood her meaning and smiled gently: “Auntie, I’m just going to the restroom.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she stepped out, the Yan family exchanged glances; Auntie volunteered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Should I go check?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grandma Yan shook her head: “Don’t interfere. Act as if you know nothing. Wait for Yan Li to return.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only did no one move—Grandma Yan even called Wu Maowen and Yan Xin back inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The courtyard’s restroom was in the northwest corner, renovated to resemble a modern bathroom, except it was a squat toilet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan had originally waited outside, but seeing Wu Maowen and Yan Xin return indoors, she didn’t wait at all—she knocked on the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll wait by the gate. Want to talk?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan stepped out first; after a while, Fan Xiaopang emerged. With people possibly passing through the alley, Fan Xiaopang invited Dong Xuan to her G-Wagon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the G-Wagon that had once graced the front page of entertainment gossip, Dong Xuan felt a surge of anger and shook her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just a few words.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They stood beneath a tree near the courtyard gate; Dong Xuan spoke first, bluntly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t care if you’re sneaking around with Yan Li—men straying is normal. But you won’t become Madame Yan. Stay away from Grandma and Uncle and Auntie—or I won’t be polite.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Qin Lan had dared to confront Fan Xiaopang on the set of The Investiture of the Gods—how much more so Dong Xuan?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, on The Seven Fairies, Dong Xuan was the legitimate leading lady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rumors between her and Fan Xiaopang were all rumors that came later—so Dong Xuan held absolute psychological superiority over Fan Xiaopang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang herself admitted it: “Yes, knowing your relationship with Yan Li, I still moved in—it was a bit uncouth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good you realize that...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Dong Xuan could finish her sarcasm, Fan Xiaopang replied: “But what can you do about it if I’m uncouth?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang’s bright oval face held a trace of disdain: “Frankly, besides being first, what advantage do you have? Clinging to those campus memories, that childhood bond—still gets broken when someone else comes along.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Drive me away, and someone else will come. Yan Li’s wealth keeps growing, and more women are eyeing him—can you hold him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan shot back: “Can you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Definitely better than you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang was full of confidence: “In looks, figure, personality, career synergy—no woman suits Yan Li better than me. Only I can make all those other women dare not even dream of him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Arrogant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan’s face curled in a cold smile: “Sounds like Yan Li can’t live without you. In truth, you’re just an artist he employs—could be you, could be Li Bingbing, could even be one of the Four Little Divas.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Flattered by a few empty words about money, you’ve lost all sense of proportion—if he truly cared for you, I wouldn’t be the first one here today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan wasn’t foolish; she’d been fooled at first, but just now she’d been replaying everything in her mind, slowly seeing through it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li had clearly arranged for her to visit his family—he couldn’t possibly have slipped Fan Xiaopang in without her knowledge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t have just returned to Beijing, grown bored, and sat around waiting to watch them fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she didn’t know how Fan Xiaopang had found out about Yan Li’s family or this place, she was certain he’d come here secretly, without Yan Li’s knowledge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang hadn’t expected Dong Xuan to catch on so fast, but she wasn’t fazed—she declared boldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Talking nonsense is pointless. Yan Li, I’m taking him—bring your best moves, let’s settle this with real skill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang had avoided Dong Xuan for various reasons in the past, but that didn’t mean she was afraid of her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that it’s out in the open, she won’t hide or avoid it anymore—let everyone fight for themselves from now on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she stepped toward the courtyard, Fan Xiaopang suddenly remembered something and turned back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, we’ve played sisters before—I’ll warn you: that Qin Lan? Yan Li himself personally picked her as his girlfriend. Seems she hooked up with him during your breakup. Who exactly is the third wheel here? We don’t know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whoever’s the third wheel is better than you—you can’t even rank as fourth or fifth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan shot back instantly, refusing to yield, but inside her mind was a tangled mess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’d always held herself as the rightful wife among all of Yan Li’s women—until this oddball Qin Lan appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the way back to the main house, Dong Xuan cursed Yan Li in her mind until her throat was raw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She and Yan Li broke up before graduation, but just over a month later, they “got back together.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Yan Li’s version was that they never reconciled—he just never left her bed. Back then, she thought he was just sulking; she never imagined he had other plans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Achoo.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li sneezed as he left the bureau, unconcerned, and kept driving toward Yangjiao Deng Hutong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He drove slowly, using the time to think through his strategy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today’s fight won’t happen!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But how to handle these two women afterward—and how to explain things at home—that was the real problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He drove all the way into the alley without a solid plan, and he didn’t overthink it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soldiers come, generals block—after all, he’d already imagined this day before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He parked, stepped into the courtyard, and Yan Xin saw him like a savior, rushing to report.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The two of them stepped outside for a few minutes alone. When they came back, the atmosphere changed—especially Dong Xuan, looks like she got the worse end.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan got the worse end?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li wasn’t surprised—he’d seen Fan Xiaopang’s skills. It was normal for Dong Xuan to lose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li entered the main room and swiftly scanned the scene: Dong Xuan looked defeated, her eyes faintly red, while Zhang Hong and Xiao Sheng hovered nearby talking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, Fan Xiaopang sat beside Grandma, her expression unchanged—but her almond eyes kept darting toward Dong Xuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, losing depends on when you lose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Fan Xiaopang first approached Dong Xuan, she’d seen her leading the charge to isolate Hu Siyan and bullying Huang Shengyi. Dong Xuan had debuted as a martial heroine, so Fan Xiaopang misjudged her as a tough opponent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She didn’t realize Dong Xuan’s true specialty was playing the pitiful little daughter-in-law—her acting was flawless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li had once called her outwardly soft, inwardly strong—but that “soft” part? Only those who’ve experienced it truly know…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Yan Li return, Fan Xiaopang rose first to greet him, taking his bag with practiced ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re back? Was the meeting tiring?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan arrived a moment later, casting a wounded glance at Fan Xiaopang, stepping aside without approaching, only gazing tenderly at Yan Li, softly saying:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you hungry? I’ll go buy you something to eat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang paused, smiling sweetly: “Yan Li’s back already—why buy anything? I’ll treat us out to dinner. It’s also a welcome for Grandma and Uncle and Auntie.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan hesitated: “Auntie, Uncle, and Grandma came all the way from Zaoshi, and they’ve been talking with us—surely they’re tired. Going out would be too much trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s true—then let’s buy it and bring it back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang didn’t argue. She pulled out a stack of cash and car keys from her bag and handed them to Yan Xin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiao Xin, I don’t know what Grandma and the others like to eat—run errands for me. Take my car. Don’t skimp—buy the best.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aren’t you supposed to be the sweet, obedient little daughter-in-law?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ll be the sharp, capable mistress of the house—being sweet isn’t enough. A daughter-in-law must be able to handle things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Yan Li’s arrival, Dong Xuan and Fan Xiaopang—who had merely been subtly showing off and sabotaging each other—now became visibly active, even engaging in minor confrontation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Hong and the others were caught off guard, but Yan Li wasn’t rattled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiao Xin, order takeout. Wu Maowen, go buy me something nearby—I’m hungry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li responded to both Dong and Fan’s suggestions, then gave orders to the two women.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You two, don’t stand around—Huanhuan and my mom wash the dishes. Li Bing and Xiao Sheng help Grandma make the bed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You want to show off? Fine—show off properly!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan and Fan Xiaopang glanced at him, said nothing, and pulled Zhang Hong and Xiao Sheng off to their tasks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Yan watched the whole scene, his jowls trembling as he pulled out a cigarette and lit it, sighing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From your grandfather, to your uncle, to me, to your uncle, and even your married cousin—three generations of Yan men, and you’re the only one who’s truly lived.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li waved dismissively: “Just everyday things—not worth mentioning.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the women busied themselves, Yan Li and Old Yan didn’t sit idle—they rearranged tables and chairs, moved furniture where needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing, Yan Li smoked in the courtyard. Dong Xuan came over from the kitchen, saying the dishes and chopsticks weren’t enough, and asked him to call Yan Xin to order more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li nodded, reaching for his phone—when Dong Xuan suddenly pointed at his waist: “There’s a bug.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t move—I’ll get it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan reached out, pressed two fingers hard against Yan Li’s waist, twisted sharply, then watched him grimace as she clapped her hands lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan returned to wash dishes. Yan Li rubbed his waist, called Yan Xin, and turned to find Fan Xiaopang standing before him, holding a quilt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s hot—no need to cover with this. Where should I put it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li stepped back warily, fearing an ambush—but seeing both her hands occupied, he relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Put it in the main bedroom closet. Let my mom deal with it later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang turned to leave with the quilt. Yan Li let his guard down—when suddenly she stepped back, her thick-soled leather shoe crushing down hard on his foot, face innocent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, by the way—I checked the weather forecast. Beijing might cool down these next few days. Nights get chilly. Better keep it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li hopped on one foot, then noticed Old Yan stepping out of the main house, expression calm, as he slowly lowered his foot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where’s the broom? I’ll sweep the yard—pebbles got into my shoes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Yan Li holding things together, and both Dong Xuan and Fan Xiaopang needing to maintain appearances,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>though there was a faint whiff of tension, overall the meal passed peacefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After eating, Grandma Yan declared she was old and needed rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The house was too small—everyone should return to their own homes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan and Fan Xiaopang had no objections—but one issue: it was late, and neither woman should drive alone. Shouldn’t someone see them home?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All eyes turned to Yan Li. He glanced at the darkening sky and stood up silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll drive them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But who first, who second—that mattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the surface, sending someone first seemed to show greater favoritism—but sending someone last meant actually delivering them home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Dong Xuan offered graciously: “Li Bing lives farther—send her first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, no.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang affectionately tugged Grandma’s arm: “Send me first—I’d love to chat more with Grandma.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Send you—I’m not in a hurry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not in a hurry either—send you first, you’re on the way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just flip a coin already!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li volunteered: after dropping them off, he’d return to stay with his parents—after all, it was their first day in Beijing, and he worried they’d be unsettled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But on this point, Yan Li’s word meant little to Dong Xuan and Fan Xiaopang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, Old Yan and Zhang Hong stepped in to smooth things over, insisting their son must return home to sleep—calming Dong and Fan’s doubts, or perhaps saving face for the couple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan lived closer, so Yan Li drove her first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as they got in the car, Yan Li began explaining: Fan Xiaopang’s visit today had nothing to do with him—he didn’t even know how she’d found out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan listened silently, then suddenly asked: “She said you and Qin Lan got together during our breakup. Is that true?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Holy hell—if the traffic hadn’t been heavy and he’d been driving slowly, Yan Li would’ve slammed into the car ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She’s lying—I…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li cut himself off—he suddenly remembered: on New Year’s Eve, when he’d confronted Fan Xiaopang, to make her back down, he’d exaggerated his history with Qin Lan, spinning tales of their deep bond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was indeed during his time with Qin Lan that he broke up with Dong Xuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But whether this account is accurate, Yan Li himself couldn’t say for sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he met Qin Lan, he had indeed just broken up with Dong Xuan; later, they rekindled their old flame, though at the time they never explicitly confirmed they were back together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During that period, his relationship with Qin Lan advanced rapidly, without any formal confession—both simply accepted their status, and after the SARS outbreak intensified their bond, they moved in together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So when exactly he reconciled with Dong Xuan, and when exactly he confirmed his relationship with Qin Lan, it’s an irreconcilable mess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li didn’t much care to clarify it—he’d already admitted he was playing both sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After thinking it over, Yan Li said: “This is a long story. Let me drop her off first, then I’ll tell you everything when I get home, okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan glanced at him, nodded in agreement, and Yan Li took her to Beiying Xiaqu, then returned to Yangjiao Deng Hutong to pick up Fan Xiaopang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to his explanation to Dong Xuan, Yan Li adopted an interrogative tone toward Fan Xiaopang, who had shown up uninvited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How did you know this house was connected to my parents’ move to Beijing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang wasn’t one to be easily cornered; she shot back: “When your parents came, you told Dong Xuan but not me—what’s the meaning of that? What did I do wrong? Am I not good enough to meet your parents?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Does Qin Lan know? Where exactly do you place me? I’ve tolerated all your messes, but you can’t treat me like nothing!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why can Dong Xuan and Qin Lan go to your parents’ place and play the perfect daughter-in-law, while I can’t even show my face?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I came here on purpose—so your parents know I’m your future daughter-in-law. If you ever betray me and turn into Chen Shimei, I’ll storm right to them and make them side with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li, rattled by Fan Xiaopang’s outburst, softened his tone: “I mainly didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to burden you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was indeed something he hadn’t thought through properly—he’d made poor arrangements, and Fan Xiaopang catching him red-handed was understandable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But one thing at a time: he’d been careless, but what about Fan Xiaopang planting a spy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s call it even.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang refused to betray her informant, trying to dodge the issue; Yan Li sneered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t need you to tell me—I can find out anyway.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from the intelligence network, only a handful of people knew about this—easy to trace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang felt uneasy: she didn’t mind getting caught herself—she had plenty of ways to wiggle out—but if others got dragged into it, she might lose her job.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reluctantly, she confessed to Yan Li, but insisted it was her own doing and begged him not to retaliate against the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Yan Li realize the source—it was Hu Ya.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before returning to Beijing, he’d specifically instructed Hu Ya to organize his work schedule, telling her his parents had just arrived and he’d be spending time with them, so he wanted to reduce his workload.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Ya, as his Imperial Court of Ceremonies Chief, would never secretly share information with Fan Xiaopang or others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since she primarily handled company affairs, she knew little about Yan Li’s personal life and didn’t realize how sensitive this matter was—she might even have assumed all the women were aware, and when assigning tasks, she openly stated the reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What Hu Ya didn’t know was that one of her subordinates—a clerk—had been swayed by Fan Xiaopang after she joined the company.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That clerk didn’t know whether the information was useful, but, adopting a “better to try than miss out” attitude, passed it along to Fan Xiaopang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang received the tip and immediately rushed to Beijing—all of this happened within a single day, leaving Yan Li and his system no time to react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That doesn’t add up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li spotted a flaw: even if Hu Ya leaked the news of his parents’ arrival, she couldn’t possibly have known they’d be living in a sihe courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang smiled: “Don’t you remember you once told me your parents refused to live in high-rises and would need a private courtyard when they moved to Beijing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And you showed me the address of this sihe courtyard—you bragged about finding a top-tier one near the Prince Gong’s Mansion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I… said that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li wasn’t sure—he might have mentioned it, offhand, but with so many women around, he truly couldn’t recall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang concluded: “Once you connect those two pieces, the range narrows. This city isn’t that big, I recognize your cars, and since you just moved in, your comings and goings weren’t hard to track.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With skills like yours, why be an actor? Why not become a detective?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li couldn’t help but mock her; Fan Xiaopang gave a smug little hum, pointed two fingers at her eyes, then poked Yan Li.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your little schemes won’t fool this old lady’s eyes. Better behave yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they arrived, Yan Li told Fan Xiaopang to get out—but she unbuckled his seatbelt and pulled him toward the building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li dodged: “You made a promise—you can’t break your word.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang scoffed: “I agreed to spend the night with you, but I never said when. That’s not breaking the deal. Hurry up, or I’ll take you right here in the car.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This little vixen was getting worse!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li sighed—there was no choice now but to finish this quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half an hour later, after showering, Yan Li patted Fan Xiaopang’s butt: “I’m leaving.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get out…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang kicked him hard, then gasped—this brute, he’d nearly broken her waist…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He detoured to a clothing store open all night, bought a new outfit, changed, then drove back to Beiying Xiaqu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan hadn’t slept—she was curled up on the sofa waiting for him. Yan Li explained upon entering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I went home to wait until my grandparents fell asleep before coming back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan didn’t say whether she believed him—her focus was now entirely on Qin Lan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li reached to wrap his arm around her; Dong Xuan sidestepped, so he pulled her forcefully into his embrace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve been running around all day—she just moved in, nothing’s set up yet. Can you get me a glass of water?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So now you’ve earned a reward?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan retorted; Yan Li pouted and insisted. She pinched him, but still got up to pour him water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmm—not too angry!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li wasn’t thirsty—he was testing Dong Xuan’s mood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He guessed it was because he’d deliberately arranged for her to meet his family; despite Fan Xiaopang’s interference, it proved he valued her, so Dong Xuan’s mood wasn’t terrible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had Fan Xiaopang not exposed Qin Lan’s existence, Dong Xuan might not have been upset with Yan Li at all—she’d have directed her anger at Fan Xiaopang instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Dong Xuan returned with the water, Yan Li drank two sips, then wrapped his arm around her waist again and began his performance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...When you broke up with me, I acted calm, but I was heartbroken—I went to Hengdian just to escape the pain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...I was in a strange place, depressed, and life was unbearable—then I met her... she patiently comforted me, helping me slowly emerge from the shadow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...She came all the way to Beijing to find me—I was torn... I’d gotten you the role in Snow Goddess Dragon to make it up to you, planning to end things completely—but at the last moment, I couldn’t let you go...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Actually, there’s one thing I’ve hidden from you: during SARS... when you were locked in school, it was her who took care of me...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If his story to Fan Xiaopang was embellished, his tale to Dong Xuan was half-truth and half-lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In summary, two central points emerged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One: Qin Lan and I share deep feelings—don’t talk about “breaking up” or anything like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two: While I’m at fault for this mess, you, Dong Xuan, bear significant responsibility too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li knew exactly Dong Xuan’s weakness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The breakup was his fault—Dong Xuan hadn’t done anything wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now that Yan Li’s status had soared, women kept flocking to him, “devotedly” clinging to him—the situation had shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was once a normal couple’s breakup had, through deliberate manipulation, become Dong Xuan “abandoning” Yan Li.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reasoning was already in place: she broke up with him after graduation, didn’t believe in his future, then, seeing him rise, came crawling back, pretending it was all about their campus romance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This logic held up—even Qin Lan had always believed Dong Xuan was this kind of person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if she wasn’t, Qin Lan was willing to believe it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn’t alone—many others thought the same: conspiracy theorists, Dong Xuan’s haters, double-bing fans, Yan Li’s extreme fans, and some anonymous “well-meaning” individuals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, someone on Tianya claimed to be Dong Xuan’s college classmate and leaked a similar story—with vivid, convincing details.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li checked with his system—it was indeed one of Dong Xuan’s college classmates, and he genuinely believed she’d dumped Yan Li only to come crawling back after his rise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He leaked it because he was jealous Dong Xuan had landed a top-tier diamond bachelor, and wanted to expose her “true colors.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of so many suspicions, Dong Xuan had grown vague.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew their breakup hadn’t involved this, but she feared Yan Li might be influenced by these “abandonment” conspiracy theories, and that the other women might steer him toward doubt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Dong Xuan was sensitive about the breakup—she avoided mentioning it whenever possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, by linking Qin Lan to their breakup, Yan Li made Dong Xuan’s anger feel hollow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Yan Li pressed his advantage—soothing her with sweet words while subtly reasoning with her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t erase the issue entirely, but he stabilized her—for now, he’d slowly simmer her like a frog in warm water…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",5033,"2026-06-19T16:16:54.562Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","07e85bca0e53cb795f30f03524b7fafd1e690310cf0ebf15e0baa282f71f15cc","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-220","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-218",405,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-cover.jpg"]