Chapter 221: Sisterhood, Yi

Mid-April, Shuangjing Fuli City

The doorbell rang; Qin Lan opened the door to find Huo Siyan holding a bottle of champagne tied with a ribbon.

"Congratulations, congratulations, Lan Jie, on your move!"

Qin Lan smiled: "Don't rush to congratulate me—I called you here to help."

"I know."

Huo Siyan nodded and pulled aside: "So I brought along an extra pair of hands."

Xiong Naijin held a bouquet of flowers and smiled gently: "Lan Jie, congratulations on your move."

"Naijin's here too? Come in, come in!"

After returning from Hengdian, with Huo Siyan's introduction, Qin Lan had met Xiong Naijin twice—cooked a meal together—and found the straightforward Chongqing girl likable.

Huo Siyan understood this well, otherwise she wouldn't have brought her unannounced; once inside, she boasted to Qin Lan.

"Jie, isn't this helper of mine great?"

"Don't even mention it—Naijin's visiting for the first time, and I've got nothing ready, I've been rude."

"Lan Jie, that's too formal."

Xiong Naijin shook her head: "I came to help precisely because I heard you were moving. Visiting can happen anytime—you treat me like a little sister to Yan Jie, and just give me orders."

Huo Siyan chimed in: "I told you this sister is loyal!"

Her friendship with Xiong Naijin was simple.

This girl's nature made her so, and after being isolated during The Seven Fairies, she developed a deep craving for camaraderie; right after joining Huayi, she set out to meet a few fellow actors and expand her network.

Xiong Naijin joined Huayi right after her; Huo Siyan thought her looks were good, she'd acted before, and might have potential, so she reached out.

Their first dinner date, Huo assumed her greater fame and age meant she should treat—so she ordered expensive dishes—but unexpectedly, Xiong Naijin quietly paid the bill.

At the time, Xiong was a junior artist with low income; though the meal wouldn't break her, her initiative to pay showed sincerity.

From then on, Huo Siyan saw Xiong Naijin as loyal and generous, even sweet and sensible, and decided she was worth befriending.

A good start, plus genuine compatibility, gradually drew them closer; their bond deepened, and Xiong was even introduced to Qin Lan by Huo Siyan—a significant boost given Xiong's status.

Xiong Naijin was also sensible, firmly taking her place as the younger sister, treating Qin Lan as Big Sister and Huo Siyan as Second Sister.

Though Huo Siyan said she brought Xiong as labor, in truth, Xiong heard Qin Lan was moving and actively begged Huo to bring her along to help and show her goodwill.

"Jie, just tell us what to do."

Huo Siyan rolled up her sleeves, striking a determined pose; Qin Lan pointed to the piles of boxes in the living room, entrance hall, and corridor.

"The movers handled the big items—just sort out the small stuff and organize it properly around the house."

Because her personal belongings were numerous, Qin Lan didn't trust outsiders like cleaners and planned to handle it herself with friends.

It wasn't heavy work, just tedious and fussy; after finishing, they'd have dinner together—both a chance for friends to gather and a celebration of the move.

"Got it."

Huo Siyan and Xiong Naijin, prepared to work hard, were eager—but after a while, they realized there was far too much to sort; even with three of them, they might not finish today.

"Don't worry—I called other friends, they'll arrive soon, and my assistant went to buy supplies, she'll be back soon too."

Qin Lan wasn't about to treat Huo Siyan and Xiong Naijin like beasts of burden—she'd called others too.

Huo Siyan, sorting through a puppy's toys, looked up: "Did you call Zhao Ke? She could help too."

Zhao Ke was a sisterly friend she and Qin Lan had bonded with during The Great Qing Harem; their relationship was decent.

Though Zhao Ke was still in probation, now was the perfect chance to bring her along and show initiative.

"Zhao Ke is out of town filming, not in Jingcheng."

Qin Lan explained—she'd already contacted her—and Huo Siyan didn't know whether Zhao Ke's luck was good or bad.

She missed both the labor and the chance to grow closer to Qin Lan.

As they spoke, the doorbell rang; Qin Lan opened it and led in a petite, delicate-looking girl.

"Liu Yun?"

Xiong Naijin paused slightly—she recognized her; Liu Yun had starred in The Emperor of Han Dynasty 2, while Xiong had starred in The Emperor of Han Dynasty 3, and they'd met briefly at related gatherings.

Huo Siyan knew her even better—she'd previously dined with Qin Lan and Liu Yun, and knew she was also Qin Lan's friend; she said casually:

"Lan Jie said she called others—I knew you'd be one of them."

Liu Yun had known Qin Lan for a long time; they'd first met in 2003.

But back then, they weren't close—just exchanged names.

In the following two years, their communication remained sparse, yet they never lost touch, and had met for dinner one or two times.

Though contact was light, Qin Lan admired Liu Yun's blunt, fiery temper.

Perhaps because her own nature was soft, she craved what she lacked—so Qin Lan preferred friends who were direct and tough, finding them unpretentious and easy to get along with.

And because Liu Yun was outwardly strong but inwardly gentle, she could blend with such people while also offering subtle care—so she was warmly welcomed by them too, and Liu Yun held Qin Lan in high regard.

Last year, to smooth over minor tensions from the casting of The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng, Nie Yuan invited Yan Li to a small gathering.

Since Qin Lan knew Nie Yuan—and he'd even witnessed Yan and Qin's meeting and romance—she joined them, and there met Liu Yun.

Liu Yun turned out to be Nie Yuan's secret girlfriend!

They'd met while filming The Blood Horse in 2004, but because Nie Yuan's career was booming and he was a popular young actor, they kept their relationship hidden.

At the time, Liu Yun didn't know Qin Lan's situation—until then, she learned Qin Lan was Yan Li's secret girlfriend.

Though Yan Li seemed to have many "girlfriends," the fact that he brought Qin Lan out, and Nie Yuan later confirmed they'd been together before Yan Li's rise, with deep affection, made her one of the true "queens."

Already acquainted, with mutual good impressions, boyfriends close, and both sharing the same "suffering" of secret relationships:

From then on, Liu Yun and Qin Lan's bond surged forward.

When Huo Siyan urged her to form a sisterhood at Hengdian, Qin Lan's first thought was Liu Yun—even considering abandoning Huang Yi.

During the filming and promotion of Huan Zhu Huanzhu Gege 3, Qin Lan initially had no friends; later, because Yan Li and Nie Yuan were close, she grew closer to Huang Yi—who at the time was Nie Yuan's girlfriend.

After that, her relationship with Huang Yi never fully ended, but since Huang and Nie broke up, the two of them had little professional overlap in the past two years, so their bond grew increasingly distant.

On the contrary, Ma Yili, who was just an ordinary colleague during "My Fair Huanzhu Gege 3," has grown increasingly close to Qin Lan in both work and personal matters over the past two years, gradually becoming one of Qin Lan's closest friends.

Although Huang Yi and Nie Yuan parted amicably and still maintain a good relationship—even, one could say, as friends.

But since he is her ex and Liu Yun is her current partner, the two together would inevitably feel awkward.

Huang Yi is famous but emotionally distant; Liu Yun is less famous but matches her temperament—Qin Lan prefers the latter.

"Bad luck, I got stuck hauling stuff for her when I pretended to be strong, and I still ended up moving."

Liu Yun complained aloud, but secretly flaunted her relationship and seniority with Qin Lan.

During past gatherings with Huo Siyan and Qin Lan, she'd sensed that this Huo woman was overly forward, acting like Qin Lan's number one best friend.

Pfft, when I first met Qin Lan, you were still fawning over that Dong woman in *Huan Tian Xi Di Qi Xian Nu*.

Huo Siyan paused, then smiled brightly: "But I'm different—I'm happy to work for Lan Jie."

Liu Yun: "..."

To flatter, she's willing to throw all dignity away...

Qin Lan sensed the tension and stepped in to ease it: "Let's get to work—clear the bedroom first, or we won't have anywhere to sleep tonight."

After more bustle, Qin Lan's assistant returned, and together they finished tidying the bedroom as the doorbell rang.

Qin Lan opened the door; Ma Yili looked apologetic: "Sorry, something came up last minute—I'm late."

"Not late. There's still plenty to do."

Qin Lan let Ma Yili in; everyone exchanged greetings, and now the group was complete.

Especially Ma, Liu, and Huo—these three were Qin Lan's closest personal friends, and she wanted them to get to know each other better.

Xiong Naijin felt relieved; she'd come at the right time. If she performed well today, she'd have one foot already inside Qin Lan's inner circle.

She was also surprised by the size of Qin Lan's social circle.

Liu Yun was no surprise—a minor star, no better off than herself—but Huo Siyan and Ma Yili were both quite famous.

Of course, Qin Lan herself was well-known—a prominent young Qingyi in the circle—and even more so with a powerful patron behind her.

Looking at it this way, the group seemed almost too small; at least a few more popular young actresses should've been added to qualify.

Including the assistant, there were six people total, and the work went quickly.

But later, some heavier items proved difficult for the women to handle, so Qin Lan called a halt.

"Alright, leave it like this—I'll get someone else to handle the rest later."

Ma Yili pulled out her phone: "Finish today's work today—it's cleaner. Wen Zhang is home idle right now; let him come."

"Sure."

Qin Lan looked at Ma Yili: "You've trained your little boyfriend well."

Not long ago, while filming *Embroidered Uniform Guard*, Ma Yili met Wen Zhang, a male actor eight years her junior.

Wen Zhang launched an intense pursuit of Ma Yili; at the time, Ma was entangled with another young actor, Zhang Bo, but eventually gave in to Wen Zhang's advances and chose him over Zhang.

Qin Lan had made a guest appearance on *Embroidered Uniform Guard* and knew about their relationship; back then, she'd teased Ma about an old cow eating tender grass.

Unexpectedly, Ma Yili has grown more and more fond of this younger man; having her bring him along to today's event clearly shows she's officially acknowledging this young boyfriend.

After receiving Qin Lan's approval, Ma Yili made a call, quickly arranged everything, then slightly triumphantly shook her phone.

"I've figured it out—men should be younger. They're obedient."

"Not just obedient—they've got stamina too."

Liu Yun uttered a blunt remark that made all the women laugh. Ma Yili then dragged Qin Lan into the teasing:

"You and your Yan Li—are you not also an age-gap couple? Does he obey you? Does he have stamina?"

Huo Siyan drawled: "Hard to say about obedience, but he definitely has stamina—Lan Jie is always glowing."

In this regard, besides Qin Lan, she had the most authority to speak.

Yan Li wasn't just about stamina—he was a living donkey. That one night, she still secretly reminisced about it sometimes.

"..."

The private chat among these women was shockingly bold. Though Qin Lan was no longer a shy girl who blushed at dirty jokes, she still turned red from the teasing.

Only when Wen Zhang arrived did they escape the ordeal—their focus shifted to the age-gap couple, Ma and Wen.

Ma Yili handled it relatively well, but the early-twenties Wen Zhang was clearly still green and couldn't withstand the group's onslaught—he was flustered.

Finally, Ma Yili stepped in to defend him, sparking another round of teasing.

After laughter and banter, Wen Zhang finally began working under Qin Lan's direction.

"These are all cigarettes, alcohol, and such—previously piled in the storage room, so we temporarily moved them to the study. Now that space is free, help move them over."

"Don't touch the opened ones—we'll put those on the liquor cabinet later. Just move the unopened boxes."

Wen Zhang stared at the twenty or thirty boxes stacked in the room—each one either Maotai or Wuliangye—and whistled.

A box of Maotai cost at least three to five thousand; Wuliangye wasn't much cheaper, and some boxes seemed to be premium editions, even more expensive.

Besides alcohol, there were cigarettes—a whole large box of unopened Zhonghua, plus high-end brands like Furongwang and Huanghelou—and another box of tea, which he didn't understand.

The wines Qin Lan said to put on the cabinet included foreign spirits, red wine, and baijiu—all of which he recognized as expensive, and the ones he didn't recognize felt even pricier.

Unable to see the full picture, Wen Zhang estimated based on his knowledge: these items were worth at least two or three hundred thousand.

Who the hell hoards this much tobacco, alcohol, and tea at home!

Xiong Naijin voiced her doubt; Qin Lan glanced at Wen Zhang: "He brings all this home. I don't understand it—I just leave it here since there's space."

High-end tobacco, alcohol, and tea are unavoidable for business gifts; Yan Li even has a dedicated small warehouse.

Most of what's here are leftovers from gifts—too lazy to take them back to the warehouse, so he just leaves them at home.

After all, you sometimes need to handle last-minute business meetings, or someone drops by with a return gift—having some on hand saves trouble.

A few are rare, precious wines and teas too valuable to store in the warehouse, so they're kept at home.

Ma Yili joked, "We can't let Wen Zhang work for free—later we'll carry one crate away."

"Sure, take any unopened ones."

Qin Lan was generous—ten thousand or so per crate of wine wasn't a big deal; giving each person a crate wouldn't be a problem.

…

It had to be said, having a man help with moving was convenient; Wen Zhang worked hard, taking on heavy and dirty tasks without hesitation, earning unanimous praise from Huo Siyan and the others.

Liu Yun, blunt and straightforward, criticized Yan Li to Qin Lan: "You're doing all the work yourself—what's a man even doing?"

"He's busy, and I told him not to worry about it."

Qin Lan defended Yan Li—he hadn't ignored the move; he was occupied himself, but could have sent someone over.

But Qin Lan had been overly optimistic, thinking a few friends could handle it, underestimating the difficulty, which was why she'd last-minute asked Wen Zhang for help.

"Yan Zong's deals earn him tens of thousands per minute—how could you ask him to do manual labor?"

Huo Siyan also sided with Yan Li: it was just carrying and lifting—Yan Li could call a whole team with one phone call. Letting Wen Zhang do it was giving him a chance to prove himself.

Ma Yili, nearby, was displeased—how could you say "manual labor"? That was her boyfriend.

But she dared not offend Yan Li, so she swallowed her resentment and said nothing.

As they spoke, Qin Lan's phone rang; she glanced at the caller ID, shushed them, and walked aside.

"Mm, almost done moving."

"Understood, go ahead, good."

After a few words, Qin Lan returned: "Yan Li says thank you for everyone's hard work—he's reserved a table at the Chang'an Club to treat everyone."

"The Chang'an Club?"

Huo Siyan and Xiong Naijin were pleasantly surprised; Liu Yun didn't get it, so they explained to her.

The Chang'an Club was one of Jingcheng's top private clubs, catering exclusively to political and business elites and social luminaries.

Most crucially, it was membership-only, with extremely high entry thresholds—allegedly requiring verified assets or social status to qualify; non-members couldn't enter no matter how much money they offered.

This so-called "high-end prestige" made the Chang'an Club wildly desirable, with many regarding membership—or even just dining there—as a mark of honor.

After learning this, Liu Yun quietly pulled Qin Lan aside and whispered: "Your guy's showing off for you."

Stars like Huo Siyan and Ma Yili, though not extremely wealthy, had some means and had seen plenty of the world—ordinary five-star hotels or Michelin meals weren't special to them.

But a membership-only top-tier club like the Chang'an Club? Not just any celebrity could get in.

You couldn't get in yourself—but Qin Lan could bring you in. That was face.

Qin Lan understood perfectly, her eyes brightening slightly as she countered Liu Yun's earlier criticism.

"Now you know what your man was doing."

"Pfft."

Liu Yun rolled her eyes but had to admit: money could move heaven and earth.

Wen Zhang had sweated and toiled all afternoon, barely earning a few compliments.

Yan Li casually arranged a meal and stole all the spotlight—Huo Siyan and the others' attention shifted entirely.

Even Ma Yili forgot her boyfriend, beginning to half-boast, half-discuss how she'd once been to the Chang'an Club, which dishes were delicious, which entertainment was fun, and how they'd eat and play later.

Since they were dining at a top private club, their current work clothes were inappropriate; they all declared they needed to go home and change.

Qin Lan agreed, set a time limit, and told them to regroup at her place before heading to the Chang'an Club together.

Since Wen Zhang had worked hard, they couldn't just leave him behind, so they brought him along.

At the Chang'an Club, Yan Li had already arranged everything—they were met by a dedicated attendant who led them in and assigned a private room.

The Chang'an Club specialized in imperial cuisine and Cantonese dishes, serving exquisite, lavish meals with premium red and white wines, followed by spa and leisure facilities afterward.

Throughout, the staff kept saying things like, "As arranged by Yan Zong," or "What do you think, Miss Qin?" and so on.

Feeling the envious, bitter glances from Huo Siyan, Xiong Naijin, and the others, Qin Lan secretly reveled in it.

After the spa and leisure, those unwilling to leave set up a mahjong table and gathered to play and chat.

"Isn't Yan Zong coming today?"

Huo Siyan had assumed she'd meet Yan Li at the Chang'an Club, but he never showed up.

"You think I'm kidding? He's truly busy—there should already be news out; check it when you get home."

"News? What news?"

Huo Siyan blinked: "Has Yi'an launched another drama project? I haven't heard anything."

But Ma Yili was more perceptive: "It's probably the cinema chain—I saw news saying Yan Zong bought a cinema chain."

Yi'an Cinema Chain had been purchased for a while now, with rebranding, location selection, and Yan Li himself as a public figure—how could there be zero whispers?

But outsiders only knew Yan Li was involved in the cinema business; the specifics remained unclear to most.

Even whether it was an acquisition, a takeover, or a branding partnership was poorly understood.

Besides, in the entertainment industry, beyond the visible stars, even the direct behind-the-scenes crew of film crews were often ignored, let alone the distant cinema chain.

Many people read the news and didn't even know what a cinema chain was.

Not just ordinary people—even minor actors like Xiong Naijin, Wen Zhang, and Liu Yun, with little fame and no ties to the film industry, had only a vague understanding of the cinema chain business.

Qin Lan had never discussed Yi'an Cinema Chain publicly before, but now that Yan Li had gone public, there was no need to hide it.

"Mm, he's been busy with this lately—constant meetings and banquets. I didn't even dare bother him."

Qin Lan seized the chance to clear Yan Li's name, also affirming the legitimacy of their relationship.

It wasn't that Yan Li didn't help her or didn't love her—he was just truly busy.

"Building cinemas must require huge investment, right?"

Ma Yili actually knew a bit—her ex-boyfriend was from the Beijing Film Studio.

"I don't know much—he said he invested hundreds of millions."

Qin Lan casually played a "Fa Cai" tile, noticed no one was speaking, and looked up to find everyone staring at her.

"A… a few hundred million?"

Wen Zhang, who had been sitting behind Ma Yili, spoke with difficulty.

It's 2006; the entertainment industry's scale is limited.

An investment of tens of millions could be called a major production; if a film's box office broke one hundred million, it was considered a major industry event of the year.

Many top-tier stars earned less than eight figures annually. Aside from a few international or sports giants like Jackie Chan or Yao Ming, the figure of "hundred million" was legendary to most entertainers.

"Uh… it's not just him investing; there are others too."

Seeing everyone's extreme reaction, Qin Lan added hastily.

There was no help for it—she spent her days by Yan Li's side, absorbing everything by osmosis, broadening her horizons.

Especially since Yan Li had long been preparing Yian Cinemas; she'd overheard bits and pieces, initially shocked, but over time grown numb to it.

Today, she casually mentioned it in idle chat, forgetting how shocking this number would be to others hearing it for the first time.

"Yan Zong really does big business."

Even Ma Yili was convinced now.

Whether Yan Li was investing alone or with partners, it was still a hundred-million-level deal; compared to that, Wen Zhang, her little boyfriend, was merely a "laborer."

Liu Yun fell silent too.

Yan Li had arranged for Chang'an Club to give Qin Lan face; though she felt Yan Li still cared for Qin Lan and her impression of him improved, she didn't get as excited or fully side with him as Huo Siyan and the others.

Money was impressive, but she believed that sometimes, women still needed companionship.

But now that she learned how huge Yan Li's venture was, Liu Yun wavered—money wasn't necessarily more important than companionship, but this… this guy was just too rich.

To ask someone to abandon a hundred-million-dollar business and come move furniture as a laborer? She herself felt she ought to slap her own face just thinking about it.

As for Huo Siyan and Xiong Naijin, their minds could only hear those three words replaying endlessly.

A few hundred million!

Wen Zhang, meanwhile, felt restless—he knew he couldn't match Yan Li, and he accepted it.

But today, among all these women, he was the only man, doing manual labor and drinking and entertaining with them.

Men, after all—how many wouldn't have a little thought in such a situation? Ma Yili was here too; he hadn't planned anything, but just being noticed and praised by several women was enough to make him feel proud.

Who knew Yan Li didn't even show his face—and still crushed him under pressure.

Too cruel. He opened with a few hundred million.

Not only did the women's eyes overlook him, but now even when he looked at Ma Yili, his gaze grew uneasy.

…

Though Qin Lan tried hard to salvage it, the atmosphere had shifted too drastically; no one cared about playing anymore.

As she pondered whether to arrange another activity or call it a night, her phone rang. She answered.

"It's fine, yeah, come over. I'll wait for you. Okay."

After hanging up, Qin Lan said: "Yan Li's obligations are done; he's coming to pick me up. You all keep having fun—just charge it to my tab."

She meant it—now that the main guest was leaving, the gathering was effectively over.

If Yan Li hadn't come to pick up Qin Lan, someone might have stayed longer out of sheer stubbornness. But now, everyone's emotions were stirred; they all wanted to see Yan Li, so no one stayed behind.

Leaving the private room, Chang'an Club had a dedicated waiting area. After a few minutes, a black Toyota Alphard pulled up.

Seeing Qin Lan wasn't alone, Yan Li got out of the car to greet them.

Today, dressed formally for an official occasion, Yan Li wore a tailored black suit; his strong, upright figure, combined with his commanding aura, radiated the polished elegance of a seasoned tycoon from New Shanghai.

"Wow~"

Xiong Naijin couldn't help letting out a soft gasp; Huo Siyan's eyes sparkled, and even Ma Yili, Liu Yun, and Qin Lan's assistant—all with boyfriends—cast admiring glances.

Red energy nourishes people, but wealth nourishes even more!

Especially men—when their careers thrive, every gesture carries an air of triumph, radiating an inexplicable yet irresistible charm.

Even if he looked like an alien, under this charm, you'd think he had clear, handsome features; if he was already good-looking, he became unforgettable.

Qin Lan had deliberately brought them all here to wait for Yan Li, intending to show off her man.

But seeing how the women looked now, she grew nervous and quickly stepped forward, linking arms with Yan Li to claim her claim.

Yan Li knew Qin Lan well—he gently took her hand and, in the manner of a host, expressed his gratitude.

"Today we're moving; thank you all for your hard work…"

They all hurried to protest modestly. Yan Li knew Huo, Ma, and Liu; Xiong Naijin and Wen Zhang were new to him—he asked Qin Lan to introduce them separately and thank them again.

Xiong Naijin was fine—a young girl, polite and brief in her greetings, perfectly normal.

But when Wen Zhang stood beside Yan Li, to everyone else, the contrast was almost unbearable.

How to put it? Wen Zhang was never a pretty face—maybe just a little handsome.

Add to that his youth—he was barely twenty, hadn't graduated college yet—and he looked naive, even a bit boyish. Under Yan Li's aura, he grew increasingly stiff and nervous.

As they shook hands, Wen Zhang was made to look like an inconspicuous doorman by Yan Li's side.

Even Ma Yili couldn't help covering her face.

She didn't care whether Wen Zhang was handsome or charismatic, nor did she expect him to stand equal to a business tycoon like Yan Li—but surely he didn't have to be crushed this completely.

Wouldn't the women think she'd picked a man she was ashamed to show off?

Ma Yili was absolutely right: when Yan Li didn't show up, he'd crushed Wen Zhang—but still left him some dignity.

Now that the two stood face to face, the direct comparison left Wen Zhang not just crushed—he was pulverized. To everyone, his image was no longer "laborer," but "doorman."

Unlike the women's contempt for Wen Zhang, Yan Li gave him a moment's extra attention.

He remembered this man—each year, intelligence reports flagged ten "Good Man" personas in entertainment that collapsed into scandals; Wen Zhang was number one.

Come to think of it, Yan Li didn't know whether Ma Yili was just not picky—or whether she thought good-looking men were too risky.

Whether it's Guan Hu or Wen Zhang now, neither counts as a traditional handsome man.

Guan Hu was at least a director; back then, Ma wasn't famous yet, so him pursuing Guan Hu was climbing the social ladder, and that made sense.

But now, compared to Wen Zhang, Ma is definitely the more popular one—even if he wanted a obedient younger brother, there are plenty of handsome younger brothers in the entertainment circle.

Worse still, whether it's Guan Hu or the later Wen Zhang, neither is honest.

I'm better off—at least I'm openly a bastard.

And this kid's a kept man, playing fancy with his sugar daddy money, no class at all.

Yan Li found some moral superiority, but said nothing, and didn't try to persuade Ma Yili.

Their romance is burning hot; the little brother is utterly obedient and loyal to the big sister. If he questioned their character based on future events no one has seen and urged them to break up, they'd call him crazy.

If they were especially close, Yan Li might have hinted indirectly—but Ma Yili and he aren't especially close.

Moreover, Yan Li has an intelligence network and knows plenty of gossip and secrets, and has gained some insight.

Romantic relationships are too complex; only those involved truly know the warmth and cold, the sweetness and bitterness. Outsiders should stay out—if you think you're being kind, you might just cause the opposite effect…

…

After some polite small talk, Yan Li and Qin Lan got in the car and left; the rest either drove themselves or took the club's vehicles, each returning home.

Ma Yili and Wen Zhang arrived by car; on the way home, the atmosphere was tense.

After all, the older sister cares for him—Ma Yili took the initiative to comfort her young boyfriend: "Don't take it too seriously. He's a big boss; we're actors. Just focus on filming your own roles—you're still the best in my heart."

When she first chose Wen Zhang, one major reason was that she thought his professional skills were solid, and she believed he had considerable future potential.

So in her view, Wen Zhang didn't need to compare himself to Yan Li—they weren't on the same path.

"I know."

Wen Zhang said that aloud, but inside, he was filled with mixed emotions.

He'd been outshone by peers before, but never so utterly crushed in every way.

Even regarding acting, as Ma Yili mentioned, he dared not claim he could match Yan Li.

Wen Zhang had watched Yan Li's performances—in "Emperor Wu of Han" and "Sword of Light"—both were commendable, even outstanding.

Meanwhile, he's nothing yet; the few roles he's played all carry a fair bit of his own personality.

If he posted online claiming his acting surpasses Yan Li's, it'd mostly be mockery, and many would even ask:

"Who's Wen Zhang?"

Seeing Wen Zhang's state, Ma Yili didn't press further—he'd just been hit hard and needed time to process it.

Once he calmed down and seriously reflected on the gap between them, he wouldn't wallow in self-pity.

Compared to Wen Zhang's mood, Ma Yili was more focused on the cinema chain Yan Li was busy with.

As soon as she got home, she pulled out her laptop and searched online for related news.

The news still had considerable heat—there were plenty of results, even a special feature on the front page.

"Yi'an Cinema Chain Established; Yan Li Invests 500 Million, Targeting the Film Market"

Clicking in, she found plenty of introductions to Yi'an Cinema Chain and several interviews.

Yan Li's were the most, along with those from Huarun's responsible officials, Han Sanping, relevant leaders, and senior executives from other cinema chains.

Ma Yili clicked on a few articles—each one made her more alarmed.

Qin Lan hadn't been exaggerating—it was truly a massive move. Planned investment: 300–500 million yuan; the first batch of theaters had already been selected, and a couple of cities had already begun construction.

All publicly revealed plans showed clear direction.

In first- and second-tier cities, build mid- to high-end theaters; guarantee 10–20 theaters open within this year and next, with over 100–150 screens available.

Mid-term plan: within three to five years, double the number of theaters and screens, and break into the top ten cinema chains by box office.

And this wasn't just Yan Li boasting—relevant government departments were backing him; the credibility was high.

If Yi'an Cinema Chain truly reached this point, combined with Yian's rising dominance in TV dramas, Ma Yili imagined:

In the future, within the industry, Yan Li alone would be a mountain peak…

Ma Yili realized she needed to pay even more attention to Qin Lan's side.

Coincidentally, Huo Siyan, upon returning home, thought the same.

She also searched for related news, but knew little about cinema chain business—she didn't fully understand it, but she didn't need to; there were experts online.

On Tianya, blogs, and Tieba, she could always find discussions—far better than guessing on her own.

【Haha, many look down on Yan Li's film sales, thinking he's just a good salesman, overrating his business skills—but from his cinema chain layout, it's clear his business vision is absolutely sharp: he directly controls the core terminal of the film market and seizes industry discourse power first.】

【Right, Yan Li is definitely not an ordinary person. In the normal TV drama market, it's just buyer and seller—he forcibly seized discourse power in the middle through distribution.】

【With industry discourse power, business flows effortlessly; without it, you're just an employee—that's the gap between ordinary merchants and business elites.】

【First seize the cinema chain market, gain control over screening rights, then force distribution and production to bend to you—easily enter the film market. If Yi'an grows strong, every film company will have to look to him for favor.】

【Why is China Film Group so powerful? Besides its official background, holding China's number-one cinema chain is key—any film company that doesn't obey gets crushed by screening restrictions alone.】

【I don't think it's about sharp vision—anyone with brains knows cinema chains are powerful. The key is whether you have the guts to invest and the ability to pull it off.】

【Exactly—the Hua Yi brothers and Yu Pangzi from Bona—I don't believe they didn't know cinema chains were good, but they lacked the guts and ability.】

【I noticed Huarun's a shareholder—is this guy really from a small town in Shandong? Could he be some lost illegitimate son of a powerful family?】

【Could also be some family's son-in-law—capable, young, and popular.】

【You upstairs don't follow entertainment news—he's a playboy. Who'd marry him?】

【Who knows? Yan Li's undeniable excellence can't be denied—he's a bit of a playboy, but as they say, men aren't bad unless women love them—maybe someone likes that type.】

【You upstairs are overthinking—he might just be a puppet on the surface; the real boss is someone else. This happens all the time.】

【You're just jealous and lost your mind. Yi'an, Yan—did you not learn pinyin as a kid? What puppet would have his company name be part of the puppetry?】

【Not a puppet—read the interviews carefully: Yan Li is the initiator and the largest shareholder, holding real power.】

【I don't understand any of this—I just want to know how much Yan Li has right now.】

【500 million investment, he's a major shareholder; even if it's half, that's 250 million】

【Yi An hasn't made little money either—Feng Diao is blazing hot right now, and there's also Tudou. com; isn't he part-owned in that too? I'd say he's worth at least 500 million plus】

【……】

Huo Siyan stared at that final 【500 million plus】, her eyes nearly bulging into the computer screen.

She remembered the first time she met Yan Li—he was doing alright, but just a small boss of a startup film company, worth only tens of millions.

How the hell has it been so short a time, and his net worth is already heading toward 500 million? In a few more years, won't he be the richest man in the entertainment industry?

Huo Siyan's heart was clawing at her insides; her resentment toward Qin Lan could no longer be suppressed.

She knew she couldn't take Qin Lan's place, but with a man like this, sometimes one extra night together was one extra profit.

Women have their own desire to conquer too!

Maybe not as outwardly dominant as men, but the essence is the same: securing a high-quality opposite-sex partner proves your charm and satisfies inner vanity.

As Yan Li's status and position kept rising.

Some women chase him for his person, some for his money, some for his resources, some might just collect him like a stamp…

…

Qin Lan had thought of this too.

The way those women had looked at Yan Li with burning eyes today had fully awakened her vigilance.

From the car ride to home, Qin Lan kept hammering ideas into Yan Li's head.

Outside women are terrible; when men go out, they must protect themselves and not let those women take advantage.

Yan Li: "…"

He used to scoff at such talk, but now he couldn't help feeling there was some truth to it.

Normally, when men and women get involved, the man seems to gain the upper hand—but when a man is too outstanding, it's hard to say who really gains.

"So who's taking advantage of whom?"

Yan Li posed a deadly question to Qin Lan, who paused to think.

"Looks like… it's me."

Before, it was unclear, but now Yan Li's desirability was definitely higher than hers—so whoever is more sought-after, the other person gains the advantage.

"So you'd better treat me better from now on, or this huge advantage will be snatched away by someone else."

Yan Li seized the chance to brainwash Qin Lan, but Qin Lan wasn't stupid—she rolled her eyes.

"Do you think I don't treat you well? What other woman would tolerate your messes?"

"That's right—outsiders don't understand, and you don't even believe in yourself. Actually, when we're together, I'm the one who got the huge advantage."

Failing at brainwashing, Yan Li smoothly switched to sweet talk, coaxing Qin Lan into pretending indifference while her body slowly leaned into his arms.

After a while of cuddling, Yan Li got up to shower—it was hot now, and while his suit, trousers, and shirt looked sharp, they were far less comfortable than a T-shirt and loose shorts.

"No, don't change."

Qin Lan stopped him—those women had stared at him in this outfit with glowing eyes, and she was no different.

If it weren't for serious matters, she'd have already started touching him in the car.

Yan Li raised an eyebrow: "You can't mean I should keep wearing this? This suit's custom-made, worth tens of thousands."

"I'll wash it for you. If I don't clean it well, I'll buy you a new set."

Qin Lan waved her hand authoritatively, then tugged his tie into the bedroom, demanding that General Yan cooperate fully…

————

Meanwhile, as Yan Li was busy reporting, news about Yi An spread, drawing more and more attention.

But since movie theaters were behind-the-scenes of the behind-the-scenes, and it was only an announced plan, most ordinary people outside the industry weren't interested.

The real widespread reaction came from within the entertainment industry.

Ordinary actors just watched the spectacle—it was too far removed from them, at most gossiping about Yan Li, this rapidly rising tycoon.

It was the mid- to upper-level stakeholders in the film industry who cared most.

Those with sharp instincts, who had sensed something earlier and picked up rumors, remained calm.

Those slow to react, who hadn't paid attention, now couldn't sleep because of this.

Especially Orange Sky, who was also preparing to enter the theater market but had yet to obtain a theater license.

Hearing that Yan Li had invested 300 to 500 million to rush into the theater market, their executives held a full-day meeting; it was said Boss Wu even slammed his fist on the table.

Huayi Brothers were also stunned—they'd long known Yan Li wasn't an easy man, and that he'd eventually storm into the film industry from the TV world.

But they'd imagined him joining film production, or handling distribution—never that he'd directly invest at the bottom of the chain by backing theaters, and actually pull it off.

The Wang brothers felt both wary and envious, while also considering further outreach.

Huayi currently had no theater layout, focusing mainly on production and distribution—there was room for cooperation with Yan Li.

Yu Pangzi of Bona felt the same, and due to his ties with China Film Group, he'd been among the first to learn of Yi An Theaters, having even met Yan Li before.

Beyond mainland film companies, many Hong Kong and Taiwan studio bosses, directors, and top stars also memorized the name "Yan Li."

Especially in Xiangjiang—their film market had been commercialized far earlier than the mainland's; no one knew better than them the power of theater chains.

Shaw Brothers, Golden Harvest, Huanzhu Gege Theatre… these were shadows that haunted countless Xiangjiang filmmakers…

————

ps: (9000/9000), settle accounts by month-end

(End of Chapter)