Chapter 228: Qin and Dong Secretly Plant Moles, Hijack

Beijing, Fuli City

Qin Lan opened the door for Huosiyan, who flashed her car key: "Sis, I parked your car in the spot."

"Mm."

Qin Lan took the key, placed it in the entryway key box, and pointed to the dining area: "Help yourself to whatever you want to drink."

Their relationship was close; Huosiyan had been here before, so no need for formalities.

Huosiyan went to the fridge herself, took out a drink, sipped a few mouthfuls, then asked curiously.

"I didn't know what happened last night, so I didn't call—did Brother-in-law get mad?"

"Why would he get mad?"

Qin Lan spoke with casual indifference: "I couldn't refuse him in public yesterday, so we had a fight at home—he's been much more obedient since."

Regardless of the truth, Qin Lan still had face to maintain in front of her little sister.

"..."

Last night she made him count to three and dragged him into the car—he didn't dare utter a word, and who knows what he's bragging about back at whose place.

Huosiyan muttered inwardly but kept praising: "Sis, you've got the husband-taming skills down pat."

"Cough, cough."

Qin Lan couldn't handle that remark, quickly changed the subject, and thanked and showed concern for Huosiyan.

"You worked hard yesterday—did you get hurt anywhere?"

"That's so formal—we're sisters, right? I swung my bag around, took two or three hits, didn't even get a scratch."

Last night looked chaotic, but it was mostly noise—actual blows were few, and Tong Dawei took most of them.

It wasn't that they were afraid to hit, but they feared someone else would go too far.

Most were female stars—relying on their faces for their livelihood; a few bloody scratches on the face would be disastrous.

So everyone swung once, dodged three times—whether they landed a hit didn't matter; the key was not getting hit themselves.

The two reviewed yesterday's 【Campaign Against Dong】, Huosiyan boasted about her righteousness and bravery, then put down Ma Yili.

"Sis, that girl's no good—slick inside, doesn't treat us as family."

"Don't say that—Old Ma had her reasons, and if she hadn't stepped in yesterday, things might've spiraled out of control."

Qin Lan still understood Ma Yili's actions and spoke up for her.

But inwardly, Huosiyan's standing began to surpass Ma Yili's.

I treat you as a true best friend and sister—not to lecture me or defend the bigger picture.

Huosiyan can be a bit reckless and sometimes useless, but she stands firmly by my side, never backs down at critical moments.

Originally, among Huo and Ma, Ma Yili weighed heavier in Qin Lan's heart.

After all, they'd known each other longer—since filming "My Fair Princess 3," nearly four years now; even if their early relationship was lukewarm, their friendship lasted longer than Huosiyan's.

So even though Qin Lan and Huosiyan got along better, the latter couldn't catch up overnight.

But emotions, while shaped by time, can leap forward in an instant, surpassing years.

Still, compared to Huo and Ma, Qin Lan thought Guan Yue had been the truest friend yesterday.

Though they weren't in the same camp and Qin Lan didn't particularly like her, she still admired Guan Yue's loyalty.

She dared to argue, dared to fight, stood by Dong Xuan the whole time—even when everyone else hesitated, she was the only one who spoke up for Dong Xuan in front of Yan Li.

Qin Lan even felt a touch of envy for Dong Xuan.

She thought to herself: if she ever had a falling-out with Yan Li and was wronged, which of these friends would stand up for her?

Ma Yili was out of the question; Huosiyan would fight any other woman for her, but facing Yan Li, she'd turn as docile as a rabbit.

As for Liu Yun—given her temper, Qin Lan had some confidence, but wasn't sure.

Qin Lan never felt inferior to Dong Xuan—except in luck. Now she thought Dong had the edge.

Lucky enough to meet Yan Li first, snatching the first sip.

Lucky enough to have a true, loyal best friend.

Huosiyan didn't know Qin Lan's thoughts and kept complaining about Ma Yili.

This wasn't just genuine resentment—it was mostly an attempt to drive a wedge between Qin Lan and Ma Yili, to seize the top spot as Qin Lan's best friend.

Qin Lan had only a few close sisters—whose bond was strongest would benefit most in the future.

Liu Yun? Huosiyan didn't care—too obscure. But Ma Yili, more famous and longer acquainted with Qin Lan, was seen as her main rival.

She'd planned to move slowly, but Ma Yili handed her a knife—Huosiyan wouldn't miss the chance to pour oil on the fire.

Seeing Qin Lan defend Ma Yili, she still felt insecure and planned to bring in more allies to isolate Ma Yili.

"Sis, remember Li Xiaolu? I'll tell you—she secretly helped us yesterday..."

Huosiyan had always been close to Li Xiaolu, and yesterday's events deepened her fondness.

And Li Xiaolu, who loved drama, either genuinely liked Qin Lan or was just eager to get closer to the action for better gossip.

Last night, over drinks with Huosiyan, she'd heard about Huosiyan and Qin Lan gathering allies, and volunteered to join.

Li Xiaolu was a top rising star—her fame, even with Qin and Ma combined, still ranked top three; her joining would greatly strengthen their sisterhood.

So Huosiyan began strongly recommending Li Xiaolu to Qin Lan.

Though Huosiyan usually organized everything among the girls, the core of this circle was still Qin Lan—without her approval, Huosiyan couldn't do a thing.

Qin Lan didn't dislike Li Xiaolu—but...

"Doesn't she know the Dong family?"

"Exactly because she does, we must pull her over—otherwise she might get pulled by the Dongs. Besides, Sis, don't you want someone inside to report their movements?"

Huosiyan had planted a mole for Yan Li at Huayi—now she was thinking of placing one near Dong Xuan.

She had a personal grudge against Dong Xuan and was even more eager to take her down than Qin Lan!

Qin Lan was slightly swayed by Huosiyan's words but didn't commit outright—she said they should first make contact.

While Qin Lan and Huosiyan discussed eagerly, on the other side of campus at Beijing Film Academy, Dong Xuan and Guan Yue, after finishing their business, found a secluded spot to review the events.

"What happened when you got home last night? You didn't explain clearly earlier."

Guan Yue pressed Dong Xuan for details; unlike Qin Lan's reserved demeanor with Huosiyan, Dong Xuan and Guan Yue's long-standing friendship meant they shared everything.

So Dong Xuan didn't hold back—she gave Guan Yue a rough account of yesterday's events.

"That's it?"

Guan Yue was speechless: "You all fought—this is just going to be swept under the rug?"

"What else can we do? We can't keep fighting, and we can't reconcile—so we let it fade, quietly let it go."

Their relationship was a tangled mess—many things could only be handled vaguely.

Say too clearly, show too firm a stance, and you force Yan Li to choose.

What if he chooses someone else?

Who dares to gamble?

Seeing Yan Li turn and get into the car yesterday, Qin Lan's panic was unclear—but Dong Xuan was truly terrified.

If they split again, Yan Li would be a dragon returning to the sea—what would she do?

As always: she'd endured hard times with him; now it was time to enjoy the fruits—and for them to go to another woman? That would hurt more than death.

At least he hasn't let another woman surpass her—meaning she still weighs heaviest in his heart. So she'd just endure for now.

Guan Yue opened her mouth but said nothing.

Not only was Yan Li and Dong Xuan's dynamic a mutual agreement, but as an outsider, even with their closeness, she couldn't interfere.

More importantly, she didn't know what to say.

Telling Dong Xuan to endure was pointless; telling her not to—what then? If she broke up with Yan Li, where would she find another super-rich diamond bachelor like him?

All men are the same—she once thought Tong Dawei was honest, yet still found his secrets.

If Dong Xuan broke up with Yan Li and settled for a man worse in every way, and he turned out unfaithful too—she'd die of rage.

After a moment of silence, Guan Yue changed the subject—since they couldn't separate, they had to fight for what they had.

"Hey, have you noticed how many people are gathering around that Qin?"

"Hmph."

Dong Xuan snorted: "An ugly woman imitating beauty."

Though Qin Lan and Huosiyan were busy recruiting, it was Dong Xuan who started it first.

Her circle included college friends Guan Yue and Yin Xu, Yang Xue and Jiang Xin from "The Fairies of Joy and Happiness," and others from various connections.

Dong Xuan's network, if displayed, would surpass Qin Lan's.

But she and Guan Yue were so close, their bond overshadowed everyone else.

"Regardless of whether it's imitation, we need to pay attention."

Guan Yue took it seriously—Qin Lan's recent moves proved she wasn't harmless; with Ma Yili and Huosiyan already around, if her group grew larger, they'd be at a disadvantage in any conflict.

Like yesterday—if Ma Yili hadn't been the sole peacemaker, and if she'd sided with Qin and Huo, while Tong Dawei couldn't interfere, three against two—what might've happened?

Dong Xuan listened, thoughtful.

She didn't take fighting or quarreling seriously—it was too unlikely. She was after Yan Li, not seizing territory or brawling.

But why both she and Qin Lan kept forming cliques? Because their own power and influence were insufficient—they needed crowds to compensate.

Especially with Fan Xiao's strong performance, both sides felt this urgency more acutely.

They couldn't match Fan alone—so if they didn't gather allies and build strength, were they just going to sit and wait to be crushed?

After a moment of silent thought, Dong Xuan told Guan Yue: "Finding allies is fine—but not just anyone. What do you think of that Li Xiaolu from yesterday?"

"She's just your typical slick-looking type—I always felt she favored the Hu family when she broke up that fight yesterday."

Dong Xuan frowned, then relaxed: "Perfect—I've been struggling to get a handle on Qin Lan's side. I can send her to probe."

Guan Yue questioned: "Is she reliable? Don't end up throwing meat buns at a dog."

"I know her pretty well. I'll go talk to her later."

Dong Xuan still had confidence—she and Qin Lan already had ties, and whatever Qin Lan could offer, she could offer too.

She didn't expect Li Xiao to side with her—just needed her to deliver what she required.

Guan Yue didn't oppose further, but recommended another candidate.

"What do you think of Yang Mi?"

"Her?"

Dong Xuan pursed her lips. Since Yan Li revealed Yang Mi's true situation, her opinion of her had dropped, and the former warmth was gone.

She didn't know if Yang Mi had noticed, but regardless of Dong Xuan's attitude, Yang Mi remained exactly as she always had.

Guan Yue understood Dong Xuan's thoughts, but she disagreed this time.

"This girl had a minor hit with 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes,' then starred in 'Wang Zhaojun'—her prospects are good. She's our own student, close to us. Sure, she's got a few scheming tricks, but the more cunning ones are the ones who rise fastest—and often the most useful."

If you treat Yang Mi as a trusted protégée, she might disappoint you.

But if you see her as a frontline tool, she's an excellent choice.

Dong Xuan thought for a moment, didn't say yes or no, only replied: "I'll think about it."

…

While Qin Lan and Dong Xuan were studying recruitment, Fan Xiaopang was leisurely recording songs in the studio.

Because Yan Li had sealed everyone's lips, and no outsiders had witnessed it, Fan Xiaopang didn't know about yesterday's incident.

"…

I know I've always had invisible wings

That carry me, giving me hope

I've finally seen all my dreams bloom

The youthful voice chasing dreams rings so bright

…"

After singing it twice and receiving the engineer's signal, Fan Xiaopang stepped out of the booth and spoke to Wang Jinghua, who had come to visit.

"Sister Jinghua, what do you think of this song?"

"Great song—the lyrics are good, the melody is soothing."

Wang Jinghua wasn't just flattering—this song really was good. She'd even asked about the composer.

"Wang Yajun, a singer from Taiwan. Do you know Zhang Shaohan? Many of her songs were written by this woman. Yan Li specifically bought this one from her."

"Supposedly, this song was originally meant for Zhang Shaohan, but Yan Li paid extra and snatched it away."

"Invisible Wings" was a song Yan Li obtained through his system—it was said to be one of the hottest songs of 2006, so he acquired it to be the lead single on Fan Xiaopang's album.

In truth, Fan Xiaopang's version was still somewhat restrained.

This song wasn't just written by Wang Yajun for Zhang Shaohan—it was practically custom-made for her.

Whether this was just PR spin was unclear, but Yan Li paid extra, pulled strings, and got the song without much difficulty.

After all, this kind of motivational song could be slightly rewritten to fit Zhang Shaohan—or any other artist.

Fan Xiaopang debuted young, had her rough days, faced controversy, and climbed upward through sheer determination.

So deep inside, she too had invisible wings—carrying her, giving her hope.

On the surface, that's what the song meant. But in Fan Xiaopang's own understanding, it was also a "love song."

Yan Li was subtly implying he was her "invisible wings"—carrying her, making her dreams bloom.

But regardless, the song now belonged to Fan Xiaopang. Her voice, sweet yet confident, made it sound uplifting and healing.

Besides "Invisible Wings," Fan Xiaopang's album also included "Cherry Grass."

Also snatched by Yan Li through his system—it was originally a song by the group Sweety, one of whose members was Liu Pinyan, who played Anu in "The Legend of Sword and Fairy."

Once Yan Li learned the composer, he pulled strings and paid to buy it.

"Cherry Grass" had a fresh, sweet style that complemented "Invisible Wings."

With these two as the foundation, the rest of Fan Xiaopang's album featured mostly motivational, growth-oriented, and uplifting tracks—all carefully selected or custom-composed by professional musicians.

Not counting arrangement, recording, or production costs, just the cost of acquiring or commissioning these songs exceeded two million.

"Looking at it this way, Yan Li really treats you well."

After hearing Fan Xiaopang's slightly boastful description of her album, Wang Jinghua couldn't help but sigh.

"Of course—he treats me well, or I wouldn't have left you, Sister Jinghua."

Fan Xiaopang hugged Wang Jinghua. Her defection had left a slight rift in Wang's heart.

But thanks to Yan Li's careful groundwork and their mutual interests, their relationship remained good, and they occasionally met privately.

This was even better than Li Bingbing's situation—due to Huayi's influence, Li now rarely saw Wang Jinghua privately.

After chatting in the studio, Fan Xiaopang finished her work and invited Wang Jinghua to dinner.

Over dinner, after catching up and exchanging pleasantries, Fan Xiaopang spoke up.

"Sister Jinghua, did you come here for a reason?"

Having worked together since 2000, they knew each other well. Seeing Wang Jinghua suddenly show up, Fan Xiaopang knew she hadn't come without purpose.

"I knew you'd see through me. Well, I'm just acting on someone's behalf."

Wang Jinghua first distanced herself, then explained: it was simple—Wu Lao from Chengtian wanted to talk to Yan Li and asked Wang Jinghua to make the introduction.

As a Chengtian executive, Wang Jinghua knew some things. She feared her own involvement wouldn't be enough, so she turned to Fan Xiaopang.

"I see."

Fan Xiaopang didn't know much about Chengtian, but she knew Yan Li and Huayi exchanged favors, so she didn't agree hastily—she'd ask Yan Li first.

Wang Jinghua had no objection. She'd delivered the message, and whether Yan Li responded through Fan Xiaopang or not, she'd have an answer.

After dinner, Fan Xiaopang headed straight to Yi'an, found Yan Li in his office, and told him.

Yan Li raised an eyebrow: "Damn. Turned him down twice, and now he's going through you?"

Only then did Fan Xiaopang learn Chengtian had approached Yan Li before.

Thinking about it, they weren't mortal enemies—both were big names in the industry. Normally, a direct request would've been honored.

The fact they sent Wang Jinghua as a go-between—and dragged her into it—meant the normal channels had failed.

"Why's Chengtian so eager to meet you?"

Fan Xiaopang asked curiously. Yan Li lit a cigarette: "They want to enter the cinema market. Can't get a license, acquisitions keep failing—so they're wondering if they can partner with me…"

Chengtian's goal had already been revealed to Yan Li through his system.

They had big ambitions—attacking Jiahé while eyeing him too, planning to swallow Jiahé, Yi'an, and Chengtian whole.

Then, using Jiahé as a shell to go public, leveraging Yi'an's mainland presence and Yan Li's connections, they'd become China's top private cinema chain and cash in big on the stock market.

The plan sounded good—if Yan Li didn't have his system, he might've been tempted.

But now he knew the sweet candy hid poison.

Behind Chengtian and Jiahé were Japanese and Hong Kong capital—far larger than Yan Li's. If the merger succeeded, he'd never gain control.

To keep him stable and useful for expansion, they'd give him some initial perks.

But once the company grew, the structure matured, and his usefulness declined, with control and capital firmly in their hands, he'd either be kicked out—or slowly sidelined.

Cut the ox after the millstone's done, burn the bridge after crossing—it's capital's favorite trick.

Knowing these bastards had no good intentions, Yan Li naturally ignored them, outright refusing every invitation.

"Damn, these guys are so ruthless!"

After hearing Yan Li's "guess," Fan Xiaopang exploded in anger. If Yan Li hadn't been sharp, they'd have devoured him down to the last bone.

"This is actually mild—they could give you no sweetness at all, or make you spit it back up, or even use you as a scapegoat at the critical moment, sending you to prison or off a rooftop."

Yan Li was used to it. Everyone says the entertainment industry is dirty, but those stars are just greenhorns compared to the capital sharks.

In some ways, Chengtian's move was almost "honest."

Otherwise, they wouldn't be so persistent—and Yan Li was a self-made man, hard to fool. Too crude an approach wouldn't work.

To Chengtian, Yan Li's cinema venture was clearly about gaining industry clout or going public to raise money.

As for building an industrial chain? In their view, it was impossible. Simple question: where did Yan Li get his money?

Stock trading and a bunch of coal bosses? Pure fantasy!

Their logic made sense—who'd guess Yan Li had a system?

At this rate, once Yi'an burned through its first round of funding, its scale still wouldn't reach IPO level. Then he'd need more investors—immensely difficult and complex.

But if Yan Li merged Yi'an with Chengtian and Jiahé, he wouldn't have to worry about funding for a while.

As a core executive of the new company, he could mobilize many resources, and his shares could be cashed out.

Even if he was eventually pushed out, if he played his cards right, he'd make a fortune before leaving.

That's why Chengtian was confident they could convince him—only for Yan Li to be stubborn, preferring to go it alone than cling to their coattails.

Fan Xiaopang was confused—Chengtian kept switching between good and evil. Finally, she asked:

"So how should I reply to Sister Jinghua?"

"Turn them down. Say you're busy—plus, I'm going to Xiangjiang in the next couple days."

"You're going to Xiangjiang? I'm coming too."

Fan Xiaopang's eyes lit up. She wrapped her arms around Yan Li's neck and began to pout. Yan Li pushed her gently.

"At the company, it's inappropriate if someone sees us."

"What's there to worry about? We haven't done anything wrong. It's normal for couples to kiss and hug. Besides, Hu Ya and Xiao Yi are outside."

As she spoke, she didn't let go—instead, Fan Xiaopang pressed her whole body against Yu Yanli's chest. Yu Yanli instinctively squeezed her flesh.

"Huh? Gained weight again?"

Her words nearly made Fan Xiaopang jump up: "Where did I get fat? I just weighed myself—106 jin, exactly."

Yu Yanli squeezed again: "Don't get worked up. If you're fat, you're fat. All that soft flesh feels good."

He actually preferred her a bit fuller—holding and touching her was more comfortable.

But her frame was large; even a slight gain in weight made her look bulky. In real life, it wasn't too obvious, but on camera, it amplified. If she stood next to a slim, petite actress, the contrast would be even sharper.

So Fan Xiaopang usually preferred to stay lean, afraid of becoming a "fat girl."

"Lately I've been busy recording songs, no other public appearances. My mindset's gotten a bit lax."

After fooling herself for a while, Fan Xiaopang faced reality: she decided to start dieting after returning from Hong Kong.

"Hey, I never said I'd take you."

Yu Yanli almost got tangled in her logic and quickly corrected her. Fan Xiaopang gave him a dangerous look.

"If you're not taking me, who are you taking? Ms. Dong? Ms. Qin? Or that little bitch Wang Ou?"

"I'm taking no one. It's just a business trip—talk about work, I'll be back in two or three days."

Yu Yanli wasn't lying to Fan Xiaopang. His schedule in Hong Kong was packed: besides discussing investments and overseas exports, he planned to place some bets on the World Cup.

This year was the Germany World Cup. The sweet taste from his last Euro Cup win was still too tempting. Though Yu Yanli claimed he'd quit gambling, when the moment came, he still felt a itch.

But unlike last time, when he bet nearly all his cash in a huge gamble, this time Yu Yanli played it smaller.

If he won, it'd be extra cash. If he lost, it wouldn't matter.

His stake wasn't high, and now Yu Yanli was no longer the same man—he had enough clout and connections, so he didn't go to Europe; he handled everything directly in Hong Kong.

He'd even planned ahead how to use the money: keep it in Hong Kong for future investments or property purchases.

When the financial crisis hit, Hong Kong would suffer even harder than mainland China—perfect for buying low.

Investment, of course, but property was his real interest: he believed Hong Kong's housing market would steadily rise. He also considered that, in the future, if they had children, they could give birth in Hong Kong—better to prepare early.

Many stars and billionaires preferred giving birth in Hong Kong—not just to avoid China's birth restrictions, but also to give their children a Hong Kong household registration.

Hong Kong household registration offered many benefits: easier school admissions, smoother overseas travel, and more advantages.

Yu Yanli hadn't decided what to do yet—he hadn't even thought about when to have children. But buying property was buying property; better to prepare early than panic last-minute.

He didn't need to tell Fan Xiaopang all this—just emphasized he'd be quick in and out, no one else, no hidden motives.

Fan Xiaopang was disappointed. She'd been looking forward to spending time with Yu Yanli, hoping to travel together.

Yu Yanli also felt he'd been too busy lately. He needed rest and leisure. He'd schedule a vacation soon, go travel, relax.

But he still didn't tell Fan Xiaopang. Who he'd take wasn't decided yet. Better to act first, explain later—otherwise, they'd argue endlessly.

…

Since she'd come to the company, Fan Xiaopang didn't leave. When Yu Yanli finished work, she made him take her out for barbecue.

"Aren't you dieting?"

"I'll diet after this meal."

Yu Yanli nodded. Typical of her. If you're eating barbecue, you can't skip the alcohol. He told his driver Wu Maowen to drive them to a well-known barbecue spot in Beijing.

The restaurant had no private rooms, just simple partitions between tables. Yu Yanli didn't mind—it was just dinner. If paparazzi spotted them, it didn't matter.

Fan Xiaopang didn't care at all. She practically wanted paparazzi to photograph her and Yu Yanli every day, to make their relationship undeniable.

If Yu Yanli hadn't held her back, she'd have already publicly admitted their relationship—even if it damaged her career, she wanted their bond out in the open.

"... ring some enoki mushrooms, eggplant, a few skewers of shrimp, and some kidneys—both inside and outside ones..."

Before she finished, Fan Xiaopang cut her off: "Order fewer."

"Alright, two skewers each, just to taste."

Yu Yanli was speechless. Other women went all out to feed their men. His? He wanted something hearty, and women kept blocking him.

"What about oysters? You can eat those."

Yu Yanli ordered more. Fan Xiaopang nodded. He couldn't indulge, but she could—otherwise, she couldn't handle it.

After ordering, they talked about the promotion of "The Investiture of the Gods."

The drama was set to air in June. Hunan TV had no shortage of good shows, so it missed the summer slot.

But airing early was fine—if ratings were good, reruns would perfectly coincide with summer, letting them sweep up teenage viewers during daytime slots.

Fan Xiaopang cared deeply about this drama.

Though "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" was a hit, she was only one of the female leads, with limited earnings. But in "The Investiture of the Gods," she was unquestionably the female lead. A strong performance could bring her many benefits.

"I asked Brother Cheng—there might be a Hunan TV variety show for promotion. Do you have time?"

Though Yu Yanli had been heavily involved in "The Investiture of the Gods" and handled its distribution, the main controller was Yongle's Cheng Lidong. Most production matters were handled by Cheng.

"We'll see."

Yu Yanli wasn't sure. He was just a supporting actor in "The Investiture of the Gods." Attending a press conference and doing a few interviews was fine.

Filming a variety show outside Beijing? He probably didn't have time. Plus, he wasn't fond of Hunan TV's overly playful, chaotic variety shows.

Fan Xiaopang really wanted him to go. As his business grew, Yu Yanli seemed increasingly steady, deep, and powerful.

She wanted to see how he'd look when those silly prank games humiliated him.

As they talked, someone suddenly tapped Yu Yanli on the back. He turned around.

Li Xiao beamed at him: "Brother Yan, what a coincidence—we meet again."

She quickly glanced at Fan Xiaopang. Wow—yesterday two women fought over him, today he's out for barbecue with another.

What a scoundrel!

Yu Yanli was surprised too. Wasn't "Struggle"'s crew strict? Even visitor access was controlled. How was this girl running around?

Li Xiao seemed to read his mind and blinked: "I'm on sick leave."

Sick leave to eat barbecue, huh!

Yu Yanli glanced at the tall young man behind Li Xiao.

Hmm—he wasn't that tall, but next to petite, slender Li Xiao, he looked tall and sturdy.

"Who's this?"

"Li Chen, my boyfriend. Also an actor."

She patted Yu Yanli as if they were old friends: "Chen, you know him—Yu Yanli, my big brother, boss of Yian. Absolute big shot."

Li Chen extended both hands politely: "Director Yu, hello. I'm Li Chen. Li Xiao often speaks of you. I've always relied on your care."

We're not even close—we only met yesterday!

Yu Yanli didn't expose her. He exchanged a few polite words and introduced Fan Xiaopang. The latter reacted indifferently.

Though Li Xiao was a popular rising star, she still paled next to Fan Xiaopang. Li Chen? Yu Yanli had never heard of him.

Normally, Fan Xiaopang's emotional intelligence would let her chat a bit. But today, finally alone with Yu Yanli, these two kept interrupting. Of course she wouldn't give them a good face.

Li Xiao sensed Fan Xiaopang's coldness. Her eyes darted: "Brother Yan, we won't disturb you. Enjoy your meal with sister-in-law."

The words "sister-in-law" instantly warmed Fan Xiaopang. She smiled, stood up to see them off, and later praised: "That little girl's quite considerate."

What little girl? If Yu Yanli remembered right, she'd debuted long ago—she just looked young. Fan Xiaopang might even be younger than her.

And Li Chen—he sounded familiar. Hadn't he been in "Seventeen Without Tears"? He'd debuted early too.

"Who cares if he debuted early? They're strangers. Why bother with them?"

Fan Xiaopang wouldn't let Yu Yanli mention anyone else. She wanted him fully focused on their private time.

Fan Xiaopang forbade Yan Li from mentioning anyone else, demanding he focus entirely on spending their private time together.

PS: Sorry, forgot to set the timer.

(End of Chapter)

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