[{"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-226":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},2260529,4411,"Chapter 226: Visiting the Set of","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-226",226,"\u003Cp>As the construction of Yi’an Cinema Chain entered a steady phase, Yi’an’s restructuring was completed, all work progressed steadily, and connections were also established on the Hong Kong side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Yan Li remained busy, he now had some spare time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mid-May, Yangjiao Deng Hutong\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li walked in carrying two boxes and saw only his grandmother sitting under the eaves, basking in the sun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nai, are you home alone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your dad’s cooking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li’s grandmother nodded toward the kitchen; Yan Li peeked in and saw Old Yan standing by the stove, stewing a dish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li chuckled: “Still trying to steal the signature dish from some restaurant?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People say Beijing has no good food—that’s somewhat biased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Beijing’s local snacks, opinions may vary, but the city’s restaurants and eateries are absolutely full of hidden talents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the capital and one of the nation’s most developed cities, how could it lack good food? There are countless high-end restaurants serving Sichuan, Shandong, Cantonese, Huaiyang, and other cuisines, not to mention many international eateries—if you’ve got money, you’ll never go hungry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Old Yan, a veteran chef, arriving in Beijing was like a fish returning to the sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Yan Li, whenever Old Yan dined out and tasted a dish he liked, he’d go home and obsess over recreating it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He planned to serve it at the Zao City Restaurant or show off his “authentic Beijing specialty” to relatives and friends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The other day, Qin Lan took your mom and me to a halal restaurant—the braised beef was excellent. I’ve been thinking about replicating it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then figure it out yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li was glad to see Old Yan finding his own pursuits, not complaining about returning home—he was happy, and the family got to enjoy good food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where’s Mom?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides the kitchen, Yan Li asked where Zhang Hong was; the old woman rolled her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Went next door to visit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wow, Mom’s made friends already?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li was surprised—his parents had only been in Beijing a short while, and during that time, Dong Xuan and Qin Lan had kept them company. Yet in that brief window, Zhang Hong had already broken through socially—impressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph, what friends? Just a bunch of old women gossiping.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li’s grandmother snorted dismissively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rural folks have rural wisdom: when arriving in a new place, unfamiliar and alone, even if your son or grandson is successful, you still prefer to be kind to others for mutual convenience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So shortly after settling into Yangjiao Deng Hutong, Yan Li’s grandmother and Zhang Hong began working to integrate with their neighbors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, the neighboring aunts viewed them as outsiders living in a private courtyard with luxury cars coming and going—complex emotions: a touch of old-Beijinger condescension, mixed with a hint of envy and bitterness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not everyone living in a Beijing Sihe Academy was rich; there were countless lower-class residents in crowded courtyards, where their hukou was the only thing of real value.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After learning this, Zhang Hong and Yan Li’s grandmother adopted the “eat and be soft” strategy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoever came—Dong Xuan, Qin Lan, Fan Xiaopang, even Yan Li and Yan Xin—always brought gifts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For perishables like fruit, which spoiled easily, Yan Li’s grandmother and Zhang Hong gave them to neighbors; combined with Zhang Hong’s sweet tongue as a restaurant owner, they successfully built good relationships with the neighbors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, Yan Li’s grandmother stopped. She felt this level of connection was enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhang Hong, having bonded with those neighbors, enjoyed chatting with them during idle hours, which annoyed Yan Li’s grandmother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nai, Mom’s tactic is brilliant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li defended Zhang Hong; his grandmother grumbled: “Brilliant how?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s brilliant because while she’s gossiping, no one’s gossiping about our family.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan, Qin Lan, and Fan Xiaopang had visited multiple times—even when disguised—and someone inevitably spotted them. Even if they weren’t recognized, the fact that several women kept coming and going couldn’t be hidden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Plus, Yan Li himself hadn’t hidden his identity; neighbors had quietly spread rumors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone who’s ever been gossiped about knows: when someone’s absent, they’re the target; if they’re present and you’re not close, you just tease them a little, then gossip about someone else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So whether intentionally or not, Zhang Hong had helped their family avoid a disaster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Makes sense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li’s grandmother nodded, then rose, leaning on her cane toward the front door; Yan Li froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where are you going?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are still a few old folks who might be gossiping about us behind our backs—I’m going to shut them up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li: “...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fine, better than sitting alone, brooding, and longing to return home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few days ago, Xiao Sheng felt guilty about mooching off Yan Li’s home and, shaken by Yan Li’s remarks about family genetics, feared her husband might misbehave if she wasn’t around, so she wanted to return home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her departure nearly dragged Old Yan and the others back with her; only Dong, Qin, and Fan’s repeated pleas kept her from leaving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li never expected to keep all his elders in Beijing at once, but he hoped they’d stay longer to reduce their resistance and anxiety about city life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He planned to invite them for visits each year, gradually acclimating them to Beijing, then find the right moment—naturally, effortlessly—for them to move here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d originally planned to visit his parents, but everyone was busy, and Yan Li had become idle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bored, he called Dong Xuan—it was the weekend, she wasn’t working.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dawei’s ‘Struggle’ has started filming; let’s go visit the set.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What, is Guan Yue worried?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li knew full well—“visiting the set” was just a polite phrase; what she really wanted was to scout and stake her claim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the past two years, Tong Dawei’s career had improved, and he’d grown a bit arrogant; Guan Yue felt threatened and had tightened her grip on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the more a woman controls, the more a man resents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back during “The Legend of Xue Rengui,” Yan Li had sensed something off between them; later, using the system and asking Dong Xuan, he learned they’d had a cold war earlier this year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the cold war ended, the side effects were unavoidable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Yue’s trust in Tong had plummeted; pressured, Tong—who already had ulterior motives—grew distant and cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since both were friends, Yan Li reluctantly intervened, speaking with Dong Xuan to urge her to advise Guan Yue not to be so aggressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But romantic relationships are too complex; both Guan Yue and Tong Dawei were emotionally invested, and outsiders couldn’t interfere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, with his reputation, telling a woman not to control her man—let alone Guan Yue—even Dong Xuan would roll her eyes at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since then, Yan Li had stopped meddling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He only occasionally heard from Dong Xuan that their relationship swung between good and bad—neither wanted to break up, yet neither could let go, trapped in mutual torment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’re going, fine, but if anything happens, don’t go throwing punches.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li warned—this was their marriage, Dong Xuan could help, but she shouldn’t get herself involved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What kind of talk is that? If it comes to blows, I’ll definitely step in. Do you think I’d let Guan Yue get bullied?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan swore firmly; faintly, Guan Yue’s voice came through: “I’m just visiting the set—you’ve turned it into a stakeout. Can’t you two wish me well for once?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, alright, visiting the set, visiting the set. If it actually turns into a fight, call me—I’ll come watch the show.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pfft.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Yue grabbed the phone, spat at him, then announced they’d arrived; Dong Xuan said a few more words and hung up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Dong Xuan busy, Yan Li called Qin Lan; the phone was answered by Hu Siyan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hello, Brother-in-law, Lan-jie’s driving—I’ve got speaker on, just speak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Driving? You’re out too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Lan gripped the steering wheel: “You went home to see your parents and wouldn’t let me come, saying I’d ruin the pure family time. You didn’t take me—can’t I find my own fun?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her tone clearly carried resentment—she was upset Yan Li went home alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li had no choice: his parents felt tense and uncomfortable around them; he wanted to give them peace during their rare time together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t dwell on it, instead asking directly where they were headed—avoiding the sensitive topic while checking if he could soothe her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Lan stayed silent; Hu Siyan answered: “Li Jie and Wen Zhang’s new drama just started filming—we’re visiting the set.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why is everyone visiting sets?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li muttered; Qin Lan’s ears caught it: “Everyone? Who else is going?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No one, you misheard—what drama?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li picked up a honey date from the coffee table, chatting with Qin Lan to pass the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhao Baogang’s ‘Struggle,’ Brother-in-law—I’ll 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?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Definitely… wait, what drama did you say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li nearly choked on the date—he knew Tong Dawei was in “Struggle,” but he hadn’t realized Ma Yili and Wen Zhang were also in it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait, there had been info—he thought Qin Lan had mentioned it, but he hadn’t paid attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the production had nothing to do with him; he had enough on his plate daily and didn’t bother remembering irrelevant details.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who knew Dong Xuan and Qin Lan would both show up on the same day? What a coincidence!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What Yan Li didn’t know was that because “Struggle” was filmed in Beijing, making travel convenient, Zhao Baogang enforced strict rules to ensure smooth shooting and minimize disruptions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Except for special leave, cast and crew had to live in the production hotel—no going home, and no unauthorized visitors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But filming for months meant families and friends needed contact, so a designated visiting day was set—every half-month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Struggle” officially began filming in early May; this was the first visiting day, and many relatives and friends came to see or deliver items.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t go visit the set—come straight to my place, Mom’s been missing you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li hurried to dissuade her; Qin Lan hesitated: “We’re just one intersection away—I’ll drop off the gifts there, then come see you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let Siyan go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She doesn’t have a car—it’s inconvenient. Besides, if two of you came and only one went, what would Old Ma think? Don’t worry, it won’t take long—half an hour’s enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d rather fart than wait half an hour—your yellow flowers would be cold by then!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Qin Lan was determined to visit the set first; just as Yan Li hesitated whether to fake an emergency illness, he heard Hu Siyan speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Jie’s on the phone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then came the sound of a connection, followed by Ma Yili’s voice: “Lao Qin, something’s happened—Dong Xuan’s come to our set too. Is she here to ambush you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li softly closed his eyes. All his efforts to block it, and still it got through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the car, Hu Siyan still harbored shadows of Dong Xuan, and after hearing Ma Yili’s alarming words, her first thought was a trap—she couldn’t help but urge Qin Lan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister Lan, shouldn’t you avoid her for now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Avoid her?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had Hu Siyan not spoken, Qin Lan might have still hesitated—she might have found her own excuse to back down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now that Hu Siyan had spoken, and Ma Yili and Yan Li were both listening, backing down would make her seem like a coward afraid of Dong Xuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So even if she could retreat, she wouldn’t. Qin Lan gritted her teeth and slammed the accelerator: “Good thing we ran into her—let’s face her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister Lan, you’re awesome.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Qin Lan so resolute, Hu Siyan’s blood boiled with excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She still feared Dong Xuan, but her resentment ran deeper—Qin Lan willing to clash with her was her own elder sister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li, knowing persuasion was useless, hung up and after a moment’s thought, called Tong Dawei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have Dong Xuan and Guan Yue left yet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, they just got here—we’re chatting right now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Get them out of here fast—take them away or kick them out, whatever it takes, don’t let them stay on set.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tong Dawei said nothing; Dong Xuan’s voice drifted softly: “Why kick us out?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li froze, and couldn’t help cursing Tong Dawei: “What the fuck are you doing with speakerphone on?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The latter felt wronged—there were only the three of them, and it was Yan Li calling; he assumed there was something important to say, so when Dong Xuan turned on speaker, he did too. He’d done this before without issue—how was he to know today was different?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Does Auntie miss me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Dong Xuan brightened: “Alright then, I’ll stay with Guan Yue a little longer, then head over right away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guan Yue had no fame and little weight on set; Dong Xuan came along with her partly to lend support—to show everyone that Tong Dawei’s girlfriend wasn’t someone to mess with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, don’t make my mom wait for you. Besides, they’re a couple having quiet time together with real business to attend to—why are you tagging along like a lightbulb?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tong Dawei was speechless: “Bro, we’re shooting a drama—do you think I’m that desperate?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re not desperate—I am. Get my wife back here now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan frowned. Yan Li’s behavior was off—he kept pushing her to leave, like a wolf was chasing her. Normally he was so calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in front of outsiders, she didn’t undermine him—only nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, I’m heading back right away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hanging up, Tong Dawei and Guan Yue couldn’t let her leave alone—they stood to see her off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today’s shoot was an exterior scene in a residential compound, and between the filming location and the parking lot lay a shaded path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dong Xuan, Guan Yue, and Tong Dawei walked toward the parking lot, while three women approached from the parking lot toward the set.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally they walked their own ways, but as the distance narrowed, they caught glimpses of each other’s figures—steps slowed, postures adjusted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Dong Xuan and Qin Lan stopped, two meters apart, sizing each other up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of silence, Dong Xuan spoke first, introducing herself: “Hello, I’m Dong Xuan—Yan Li’s girlfriend.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qin Lan smiled brightly: “Small world—I’m Qin Lan, Yan Li’s current girlfriend.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>ps: Ten-thousand-character update settled\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2423,"2026-06-19T16:16:54.562Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","13a2ed268c3346f1aa5d939b7d636aacc23676185402a3021004031dccf277af","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-227","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-225",405,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-cover.jpg"]