Chapter 226: Visiting the Set of

As the Yi'an cinema line construction entered a stable phase, Yian's reorganization was completed, all tasks steadily progressed, and connections were established on Xiangjiang's side.

Although Yan Li remained busy, he finally had some free time.

Mid-May, Yangjiao Lantern Alley

Yan Li walked in carrying two boxes and saw only his grandmother sitting under the eaves, basking in the sun.

"Nai, are you the only one home?"

"Your dad's cooking."

Yan Li's grandmother nodded toward the kitchen; Yan Li peeked in and saw Old Yan standing by the stove, stewing a dish.

Yan Li laughed: "Still trying to copy some restaurant's signature dish?"

People say Jingcheng has no good food—that's somewhat biased.

Whether Jingcheng's local snacks are good may be a matter of opinion, but its restaurants and eateries are definitely full of hidden talents.

As the capital and one of the nation's most developed cities, how could there be no delicious food? There are countless high-end restaurants serving Sichuan, Shandong, Guangdong, Huaiyang, and other cuisines, not to mention many foreign restaurants—if you have money, you'll never go hungry.

For Old Yan, a veteran chef, arriving in Jingcheng was like a fish returning to the sea.

According to Yan Li, whenever Old Yan dined out and tasted a dish he liked, he'd go home and obsess over recreating it.

He planned to sell it at the Zao City restaurant or show off his "authentic Jingcheng specialty dishes" to relatives and friends.

"The day before yesterday, Qin Lan took me and your mom to a halal restaurant—the braised beef was excellent, and I've been thinking about replicating it."

"Then figure it out yourself."

Yan Li was glad to see Old Yan finding his own interests, not complaining about returning to their hometown—he was happy, and the family got to enjoy good food.

"Where's Mom?"

Besides the kitchen, Yan Li asked where Zhang Hong was; the old lady snorted.

"Went next door to visit."

"Wow, Mom's already made friends."

Yan Li was surprised—his parents had only been in Jingcheng a short while, and during that time Dong Xuan and Qin Lan had kept them company; yet in that brief window, Zhang Hong had broken through socially—impressive.

"Hmph, what friends? A bunch of old women gossiping."

Yan Li's grandmother sniffed disdainfully.

Rural people have rural wisdom: when arriving in a new place, unfamiliar and without connections, even if your son or grandson is successful, you still prefer to be kind to others for mutual convenience.

So, shortly after settling into Yangjiao Lantern Alley, Yan Li's grandmother and Zhang Hong began working to get along with their neighbors.

Originally, the neighboring aunts viewed them as outsiders living in a private courtyard with luxury cars coming and going; their feelings were complicated—some condescension from old Jingcheng locals, mixed with a touch of envy and bitterness.

Not everyone living in a Jingcheng sihe courtyard is rich; there are countless poor families in the communal courtyards, where their hukou is the only thing of value.

After learning this, Zhang Hong and Yan Li's grandmother adopted the "eat and be soft" strategy.

Whoever came—Dong Xuan, Qin Lan, Fan Xiaopang, even Yan Li and Yan Xin—always brought gifts.

For perishables like fruit, which spoiled easily if left uneaten, Yan Li's grandmother and Zhang Hong gave them to neighbors; added to Zhang Hong's sweet tongue and her status as a restaurant owner, they successfully built good relationships with all the neighbors.

At this point, Yan Li's grandmother stopped—she felt this level was sufficient.

But Zhang Hong, having connected with those neighbors, enjoyed chatting with them during her free time, which annoyed Yan Li's grandmother.

"Nai, Mom's tactic is brilliant."

Yan Li defended Zhang Hong; his grandmother grumbled: "Brilliant where?"

"It's brilliant because while she's gossiping, no one's gossiping about our family."

Dong Xuan, Qin Lan, and Fan Xiaopang had visited multiple times; even when disguised, they couldn't avoid being spotted a few times. Even if not recognized, the fact that several women kept coming and going couldn't be hidden.

Moreover, Yan Li himself hadn't hidden his identity, so neighbors inevitably whispered behind his back.

Everyone who's ever gossiped in groups knows: when someone's absent, they gossip about them; if the person's present and you're not close, you just tease them a little, then gossip about someone else.

So, whether intentionally or not, Zhang Hong had helped their family avoid a disaster.

"There's some sense to that."

Yan Li's grandmother nodded, then stood up, leaning on her cane toward the front gate; Yan Li froze.

"Where are you going?"

"There are still a few old men and women—maybe they're gossiping about us too. I'm going to shut them up."

Yan Li: "..."

Fine—it's better than being silent, cooped up, and pining to return to the hometown.

A few days ago, Xiao Sheng felt embarrassed about mooching off Yan Li's home and, after being provoked by Yan Li, doubted the family's genetics, fearing her husband might misbehave if she wasn't home, so she wanted to return to their hometown.

Her departure nearly dragged Old Yan and the others back with her; only Dong, Qin, and Fan's repeated pleas kept them from leaving.

Yan Li never expected to keep all his elders in Jingcheng at once, but he wanted them to stay as long as possible to reduce their resistance and anxiety about city life.

In the future, invite them for visits each year, gradually acclimating them to Jingcheng life, then find the right opportunity—when the time is ripe—for them to move here permanently.

…

He'd originally planned to visit his parents, but everyone was busy, and Yan Li had become the idle one.

Bored, Yan Li called Dong Xuan—it was the weekend, and she wasn't working.

"Da Wei's 'Struggle' has started filming—I'm going with Guan Yue to visit the set."

"What, is Guan Yue worried?"

Yan Li knew perfectly well: "visiting the set" sounded nice, but the real goal was reconnaissance and claiming territory.

Over the past two years, Tong Dawei's career had improved significantly, and he'd gotten a bit arrogant; Guan Yue sensed danger and had started keeping a tighter leash on him.

But sometimes, the more a woman controls a man, the more he resents it.

Back during "The Legend of Xue Rengui," Yan Li had already sensed something off between them; later, using the system and asking Dong Xuan, he learned they'd had a cold war earlier that year.

Although the cold war ended, the side effects were unavoidable.

Guan Yue's trust in Tong dropped sharply; pressured by this, Tong—who already had ulterior motives—grew cold and distant.

Since both were friends, Yan Li rarely meddled in others' affairs, but he specifically spoke with Dong Xuan, asking her to persuade Guan Yue not to be so "aggressive."

Yet romantic relationships are too complicated; both Guan Yue and Tong Dawei had gotten too invested, and outsiders could do nothing.

Besides, with his reputation, telling women to ignore men—let alone Guan Yue—even Dong Xuan wanted to roll her eyes at him.

From then on, Yan Li stopped interfering.

He occasionally learned from Dong Xuan that their relationship swung between good and bad—neither wanted to break up, yet neither could swallow their anger, so they entangled and tormented each other.

"If you're going to stick around, don't go rushing in to fight if anything happens."

Yan Li warned her—this was their couple's business; Dong Xuan could help out a little, but she shouldn't get herself dragged in.

"What kind of talk is that? If it actually comes to blows, I'll definitely step in. Do you think I'd let Guan Yue get bullied?"

Dong Xuan swore firmly, and faintly from the side came Guan Yue's grumble: "I'm just visiting for work—why are you all acting like you caught me cheating? Can't you two wish me some good luck?"

"Alright, alright, visiting, visiting—if it actually turns into a fight, call me right away. I'll come watch the show."

"Pfft."

Guan Yue took the phone, spat at him, then yelled they'd arrived; Dong Xuan said a few more words and hung up.

With Dong Xuan busy, Yan Li called Qin Lan—her phone was answered by Huo Siyan.

"Hey, brother-in-law, Lan-jie's driving—I turned on speaker, just speak."

"Driving? You're all out too?"

"Yeah."

Qin Lan gripped the steering wheel: "You went home to see your parents and wouldn't let me come, saying you wanted pure family time—you didn't take me, so you won't even let us find our own fun?"

Her tone carried clear resentment—Qin Lan was upset Yan Li went home alone to visit his parents.

Yan Li had no solution; his parents felt tense and uneasy around any of them. He rarely had time to spend with them, and didn't want them exhausted.

He didn't dwell on it, and directly asked Qin Lan where they were going—avoiding the sensitive topic while seeing if he could find a chance to soothe her.

Qin Lan stayed silent; Huo Siyan answered: "Li-jie and Wen Zhang's new drama just started filming—we're going to visit."

"Why is everyone going to visit?"

Yan Li muttered, and Qin Lan, with sharp ears, asked: "Everyone? Who else is going?"

"No one—misheard you. Which drama?"

Yan Li picked up a honey date from the coffee table and chatted with Qin Lan to pass the time.

"Zhao Baogang's 'Struggle,' brother-in-law—I tell you, it's hilarious: Li-jie and Wen Zhang aren't playing a couple in the drama—can you imagine how they feel watching their own partners act as lovers with someone else?"

"Definitely… wait, which drama did you say?"

Yan Li nearly choked on the honey date—he knew Tong Dawei was in 'Struggle,' but had no idea Ma Yili and Wen Zhang were in it too.

Wait, wasn't there info about it? Qin Lan had mentioned it to him before, but he hadn't paid attention.

After all, the production had nothing to do with him—he had enough on his plate daily and didn't bother remembering things so far removed.

Who knew that Dong Xuan and Qin Lan would coincidentally show up on the same day?!

What Yan Li didn't know was that because 'Struggle' was filmed in Jingcheng, making travel convenient, Zhao Baogang enforced strict rules to ensure smooth filming and minimize disruptions.

Except under special circumstances, cast and crew must live in the production hotel—no going home, and no unauthorized visitors allowed.

But filming for months meant families and friends couldn't meet at all, so a designated visitation day was set—once every half-month.

'Struggle' officially began filming in early May; this was the first visitation day, and many relatives and friends came to see the cast or deliver items.

"Don't visit—come straight to my place. Mom's been missing you."

Yan Li hurried to dissuade her; Qin Lan hesitated: "We're just one intersection away—I'll drop off the stuff there, see you for a moment, then go to yours."

"Let Siyan go."

"She doesn't have a car—it's inconvenient. Besides, if two come and only one goes, what will Lao Ma think of me? Don't worry—it won't take long, thirty minutes is enough."

I'll be damned if I wait thirty minutes—by then the cabbage's already rotten!

But Qin Lan was determined to visit first; just as Yan Li hesitated whether to fake an emergency, Huo Siyan spoke up.

"Li-jie's on the phone."

Then came the sound of connection, followed by Ma Yili's voice: "Lan, something's happened—Dong Xuan's here at our set too. Is she here to ambush you?"

Damn it!

Yan Li gently closed his eyes—he'd tried everything to block it, yet still found out.

In the car, Huo Siyan still had lingering fear of Dong Xuan; hearing Ma Yili's alarming words, her first thought was a trap, and she couldn't help urging Qin Lan.

"Lan-jie, should we avoid her for now?"

"Avoid her?!"

Had Huo Siyan not spoken, Qin Lan might have hesitated—she might have found an excuse to back down.

But now, with Huo Siyan and Ma Yili listening, and Yan Li on the line, backing down would make her look like she was afraid of Dong Xuan.

So even if she could retreat, she wouldn't—Qin Lan clenched her teeth and pressed the accelerator: "Perfect timing. Let's face her."

"Lan-jie, you're awesome."

Seeing Qin Lan's boldness, Huo Siyan's blood boiled too.

She feared Dong Xuan, but her resentment ran deeper—Qin Lan willing to confront her was her true elder sister.

"…."

Knowing he couldn't stop her, Yan Li hung up, thought for a moment, then called Tong Dawei.

"Have Dong Xuan and Guan Yue left yet?"

"Nope, they just got here—we're chatting right now."

"Get them out of there—take them away, or kick them out. Whatever you do, don't let them stay on set."

Tong Dawei said nothing, and Dong Xuan asked softly, "Why are you chasing us away?"

Yan Li paused, unable to hold back his curse at Tong Dawei: "What the hell are you doing turning on speakerphone?!"

"…"

The latter looked aggrieved—there were only the three of them, and it was Yan Li who called; he assumed there was something important to say, so when Dong Xuan turned on speaker, he did too—it wasn't the first time something like this had happened, and he never imagined this time it wouldn't be allowed.

Calming down, Yan Li spoke: "Come back right after visiting. My mom's been nagging about you—she wants you to come home for dinner."

"Does Auntie miss me?"

Hearing this, Dong Xuan brightened: "Alright then, I'll stay with Guan Yue a little longer, then head over right away."

Guan Yue had no fame and little clout on set; Dong Xuan came along to support her, subtly signaling that Tong Dawei's girlfriend wasn't someone to be messed with.

"No, no—don't make my mom wait for you. Besides, they're a couple having a quiet moment, with real business to attend to. Why are you standing there like a third wheel?"

Tong Dawei was speechless: "Bro, we're filming a drama—do you think I'm that desperate?"

"You're not desperate, but I am—get my wife back here fast."

Dong Xuan frowned. Yan Li's behavior was off—he kept pushing her to leave, like a wolf was chasing him. Normally he was so calm.

But in front of outsiders, she didn't undermine him—only nodded.

"Fine, I'll head back right away."

After hanging up, Tong Dawei and Guan Yue couldn't let her leave alone—they stood up to see her off.

Today's shoot was an exterior scene at a residential compound, and a shaded path led from the set to the parking lot.

Dong Xuan, Guan Yue, and Tong Dawei walked toward the parking lot, while three women approached from the parking lot toward the set.

Originally they walked past each other, but as the distance shrank and their figures became faintly visible, their steps slowed involuntarily, their postures adjusting constantly.

Finally, Dong Xuan and Qin Lan stopped, two meters apart, sizing each other up.

After a moment of silence, Dong Xuan spoke first, introducing herself: "Hello, I'm Dong Xuan, Yan Li's girlfriend."

Qin Lan smiled brightly: "Small world—I'm Qin Lan, Yan Li's current girlfriend."

"…"

————

ps: Caught up on ten-thousand-character update

(End of Chapter)