[{"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-229":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},2260532,4411,"Chapter 229: Yan Li: I","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-229",229,"\u003Cp>BBQ shop\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Chen couldn’t help glancing inside the shop; Li Xiaolu tapped him with a skewer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you looking at?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xiaolu looked at Li Chen with a half-smile: “I saw those sneaky eyes of yours darting all over Fan Bingbing. What, you wanna steal the boss’s woman? If you’ve got that kind of thought, just say it—let’s break up. Don’t drag me into your suicide mission.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How would I dare?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Chen smiled nervously, swearing his loyalty to his girlfriend: “Besides, in my eyes, there’s no one but you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In their relationship, Li Xiaolu clearly held the upper hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They met while filming “Thirteen Princesses”; at the time, Li Xiaolu was already a Golden Horse Award winner and famous from the TV drama “Angels Caused the Trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Chen had some fame then, but nowhere near Li Xiaolu’s level, and with her family’s three-generation hold on the entertainment industry and her vast connections, the gap was even wider.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Li Chen pursued her for a long time before finally winning her over, and even now he had to coddle her, treating her like a princess with her occasional tantrums.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To please Li Xiaolu, Li Chen even got a tattoo of the character “Lu” on his thigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Li Chen poured out a flood of flattery, Li Xiaolu’s expression slowly softened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She loved to play around and sometimes craved excitement, but that didn’t mean she wanted daily thrills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the contrary, raised in luxury since childhood, she preferred being indulged, pampered, and catered to in every way—that’s why she stayed with Li Chen, who always yielded to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Xiaolu calmed down, Li Chen explained he’d just been curious about Yan Li, wondering how she knew him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d been dating for years and even lived together; he’d never heard she had any connection with this rising star.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We knew each other before, but we got close recently—I helped him with a small favor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xiaolu began showing off her connections: Tong Dawei and Ma Yi from the “Struggle” cast, her best friends Qin Lan, Hu Siyan, and Dong Xuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pick any one of them—they were all big names in the industry, all more famous than Li Chen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, she talked most about Yan Li.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others were actors, at best big or small stars; Yan Li, as an actor, might not stand out among them, but he was a genuine billionaire, and more importantly, he had resources.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li was truly deserving of the title “boss,” but different tiers of entertainers saw him differently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, top-tier superstars wouldn’t dare offend him lightly, but they weren’t terrified either; a few could even interact with him as equals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A-listers, each with their own backing, respected him and stayed friendly, but if they had nothing to gain, they wouldn’t grovel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Below that, it was different: either you couldn’t afford to offend him, or you wanted to cling to his leg.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Take Li Xiaolu, for instance—a popular rising star—but even rising stars aren’t all the same, otherwise she wouldn’t have been cast as a supporting role to Ma Yi in “Struggle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her family had connections, but connections aren’t capital; helping link up with certain productions or directors was fine, but directly promoting someone? Hardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, to Li Xiaolu, Yan Li was top-tier networking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Chen, even less so—a little-known actor in the industry. Any resource Yan Li tossed his way would boost his career.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So both were eager to talk about Yan Li: Li Xiaolu loved showing off her connections, while Li Chen wanted to latch onto them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Should we go offer him a drink or something?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Chen was itching to go; Li Xiaolu rolled her eyes: “Didn’t you see? He’s annoyed by your meddling. Go bother him again? Better to pay the bill than beg for his attention.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fair point.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Chen agreed—it was just a BBQ, not much money. But if he won the boss’s favor, it’d be worth far more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He got up to pay the owner, then returned with a grumble: “Man, they’re rich—this meal cost over 600.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was 2006—even in Beijing, 300 per person for BBQ was a bit exaggerated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s that? A decent bottle of wine costs hundreds.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xiaolu wasn’t fazed; for ordinary people, spending like this was wasteful, but for billionaires, it was just good household management.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention 600—whether it was 6,000 or 60,000, they could afford it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Chen fell silent. In this era, money was the ultimate truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as you had money, even if you ate shit, people would praise your unique taste and exceptional character.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They arrived early and finished early, yet stubbornly stayed, moving their seats to a visible spot by the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long while, Yan Li and Fan Xiaopang stepped out wearing masks—and sure enough, they spotted them immediately, coming over to greet them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You shouldn’t have spent so much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nah, just a meal—what matters is you enjoyed it, Brother Yan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xiaolu was generous; after a few words, Yan Li and Fan Xiaopang got into the driver’s waiting G-Wagon and drove off slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tsk, when will I ever drive a G-Wagon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Chen was envious—no man didn’t love cars, especially Li Chen, who’d once been a race car driver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though not famous, he had roles and some savings; his family background was decent—he could afford a million-yuan luxury car if he sold everything he owned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then what?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to live, pay his mortgage, and support a girlfriend raised to spend money like water—and new cars depreciated fast, with expensive maintenance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could buy it, but he couldn’t afford to own it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xiaolu looked down on Li Chen’s pitiful expression: “So you can afford it? Big deal. You dream of a G-Wagon? To him, it’s just transportation. Driving the same car doesn’t mean you’re the same class.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You didn’t realize the difference until you compared—nobody else knew, but Yan Li giving Fan Xiaopang a G-Wagon was famous news. What did Li Chen give her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A heart-shaped stone!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, young and naive, she thought it was romantic. Now, compared to others, it left a bitter taste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Li Chen had given her other gifts, but everything combined over years of dating didn’t add up to half a G-Wagon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From now on, Li Xiaolu kept using Yan Li to put Li Chen down during meals—he was getting annoyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he dared not retort; otherwise, she’d throw a bigger fit. He swallowed his anger and said the matter was done—they should go home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, they asked the owner to settle their bill. Since they’d been waiting for Yan Li, they hadn’t paid yet, not wanting to block the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The owner said their bill had already been paid—and he’d even added 1,000 yuan to their membership card, telling them to just use the card next time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Chen stared blankly at the membership card; Li Xiaolu muttered: “What a slick move—he doesn’t even owe a meal’s worth of favor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What favor is a meal?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the G-Wagon, Yan Li and Fan Xiaopang discussed the earlier incident; Yan Li shrugged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too many people wanted to invite him or treat him to meals—if every meal created a debt, his favors would be worthless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Yan Li’s status was mostly within the entertainment industry, his fame outside was enormous—he was among the most well-known businessmen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Often, when dining or having fun, friends, admirers, or people wanting to connect would pay his bill; restaurant owners frequently waived charges or gave free food and drinks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just Yan Li—even Fan Xiaopang, if recognized, sometimes got the same treatment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s the benefit of fame—many people were happy to play along.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A simple meal? They’d brag to friends about treating some big shot, feeling proud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So if it were just Yan Li alone, he’d accept the invitation, say polite thanks, and leave it at that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But today, Fan Xiaopang was with him—and she thought Li Xiaolu was too eager.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A popular rising star, calling him “Brother Yan” sweetly, offering to pay—given Yan Li’s reputation, she had to be cautious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So when Fan Xiaopang noticed Li and Li hadn’t paid, she returned the favor—adding a membership card worth 1,000 yuan to make up the difference, clearly signaling her stance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We’re not doing this. Keep your distance!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li thought Fan Xiaopang was overreacting: “She has a boyfriend, for heaven’s sake. Do you think I’m like that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph. A wife isn’t as good as a concubine, a concubine isn’t as good as a mistress—other people’s food tastes best, other people’s wives are most tempting. I know what men like you are thinking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang shot him a glare. He had no shortage of women—just a gesture and they’d throw themselves at him. Who knew if he’d deliberately seek thrills?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, having a boyfriend doesn’t mean you can’t break up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just look at how Li Xiaolu’s eyes lit up when she saw Yan Li—someday she might kick that Li-whatever guy to the curb and crawl to Yan Li’s feet. Not impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People chasing wealth and climbing ladders? Common among ordinary folks, let alone in this fame-and-fortune circus called entertainment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too many had dumped lovers for better prospects—even heard of women who handed their boyfriends or girlfriends over to others to climb higher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tie your belt tighter. What’s so appealing about a stick-thin matchstick?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Fan Xiaopang jealous and belittling Li Xiaolu, Yan Li found it amusing and teased her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She’s skinny, sure, but not completely flat, and she’s pretty pale.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re lying—you’re thinking about her!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang snapped: “So skinny? You afraid you’ll puncture her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li: “...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Xiaolu wasn’t especially short—she was about 1.6 meters in shoes—but she was thin, making her seem even smaller.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike Yang Rong or Hu Siyan, who were also short but curvy—just appearing petite, not as frail as Li Xiaolu, who looked like a Barbie doll.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But come to think of it, aside from Hu Siyan, Yan Li had rarely interacted with petite women.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Barbie dolls, small and slender... I wonder if they’d be fun!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cough, cough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coming to his senses, Yan Li saw Fan Xiaopang glaring at him and pinched her cheek.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, just teasing you. Honestly, Li Xiaolu is close with Qin Lan, and familiar with Dong Xuan—if I touched her, they’d eat me alive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li meant to explain, but Fan Xiaopang’s eyes lit up at his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This little girl’s network is pretty wide.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「……」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li saw her expression; though he didn’t know what she was thinking, he was certain she had no good intentions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Add to that Qin Lan and Dong Xuan’s schemes, and he truly doubted whether Li Xiao’s slight frame could withstand it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yan Li didn’t care—he’d leave the three women to their antics as long as they didn’t bother him; if things got too bad, he’d privately compensate Li Xiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Fan Xiaopang’s apartment, Yan Li went to bathe, while Fan Xiaopang disappeared into the bedroom to tinker, claiming she had a surprise for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Yan Li emerged, she was still busy; over half an hour passed, and Yan Li had already finished watching one episode of his drama before the bedroom door finally opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang had her hair tightly coiled into a high bun, adorned with golden hairpins and matching earrings, her makeup refined, eyebrows and eyes like a painted scroll, lips softly alluring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wore a vibrant orange-red Tang-style ornate bustier gown, its flowing lines perfectly accentuating her graceful figure; the bold color made her neck and chest skin appear even paler, softer, and more luminous, giving her an air of noble elegance and dazzling brilliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang maintained a composed expression, confidently taking two steps toward Yan Li in ladylike strides, fixing her gaze on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How do I look? Am I beautiful?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li stared at her for over ten seconds, then nodded sincerely: “Beautiful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they’d known each other for a long time, and Yan Li had seen Fan Xiaopang in countless beautiful guises before,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>seeing her now in full regalia, he couldn’t help but be utterly stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still thinking about that matchstick girl?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang started digging up old grievances; seduced by her beauty, Yan Li shook his head decisively: “I’ve got you—why would I care about her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who’s prettier, me or her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No comparison.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who’s more beautiful—me, or Qin and Dong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re the most beautiful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then say ‘Yan Li loves Fan Bingbing’ three times.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you done yet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li saw Fan Xiaopang pushing her luck further with her beauty, pulled her into his arms, and sealed her lips with his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang resisted, breaking free: “That’s not fair—I spent hours preparing this outfit, just indulge me a little!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Like I don’t know whose idea this was.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li tugged at her dress: “This is the costume from ‘The Legend of Yang Yuhuan’—the dress, the jewelry, all paid for by me. And let’s not forget, I’m the one who made you look like this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang protested: “I was born beautiful—what did you have to do with it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You were born beautiful, yes—but you were also raised beautifully.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li spoke with unshakable conviction: “I feed you the finest food, give you the best care, work day and night to provide you with vitality—I spend money and effort. Tell me, isn’t that my contribution?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang admitted Yan Li’s words weren’t without merit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since becoming his, her career had improved, her aura had flourished, her finances had soared, every aspect of her life had been elevated, her emotions had found a home, and their intimacy had become harmonious—aside from a few minor issues, everything went smoothly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under these conditions, Fan Xiaopang radiated vitality every single day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A good mood and state of mind naturally improved her body and demeanor—medical studies even supported this: the better one’s life, the more beautiful one becomes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But aren’t you the one enjoying it all?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang stubbornly retorted; Yan Li didn’t argue—he simply picked her up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I’ll enjoy it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No—first say you love me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m just a rough soldier, not good with words, Your Majesty—better let me show you my real strength.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In mid-May, Yan Li arrived in Shenzhen, first visiting the construction site of Yian Cinema’s flagship store, then heading to Xiangjiang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master Yan, you’ve finally arrived—we’ve been waiting for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Director Huang, you flatter me—I’m visiting your territory and rely entirely on your guidance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li exchanged pleasantries with Huang Baiming, who had come to meet him, and also met his son, Huang Ziheng—also known as Little Huang Zong—a senior executive at Oriental Film.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he carried the “little” title, Huang Ziheng was actually two years older than Yan Li.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a slightly awkward situation for Yan Li.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His meteoric rise meant he often dealt on equal footing with seasoned businessmen decades his senior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These elders, now aging, were often grooming their heirs, frequently bringing along nephews or sons to network and gain exposure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they introduced each other, it was easy: “This is Uncle so-and-so,” “That’s Grandpa so-and-so.” But with Yan Li, complications arose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If someone was slightly younger, calling him “Brother” was fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the real trouble came with those second-generation kids who were only a few years older than him—calling them “Brother” felt strange, treating them as equals felt awkward, and using official titles felt cold and distant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And such people were everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Yan Li was only twenty-five; those younger than him were either still in school or just graduated, still finding their footing in companies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those brought out by elders—especially those being groomed as successors—had usually undergone some training; most were at least twenty-seven or twenty-eight, many over thirty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every time, he had to agonize over what to call them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially with those who valued tradition—he’d more than once been forced to be called “Uncle” by people his own age or even older.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li didn’t know whether these encounters were friendships or feuds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Your parents don’t mind asserting their senior authority, but he resented being hated and looked down upon by the second-generation kids.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, however, the Huangs were fewer in number, more Westernized in thinking, and since they weren’t close, they stuck to formal titles: “Master Yan,” “Big Huang Zong,” “Little Huang Zong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the greetings, they first treated him to a welcome dinner; Huang Baiming had reserved a table at the Peninsula Hotel. After eating, Little Huang Zong, as a peer, took charge of entertaining Yan Li.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why the father-son duo thrived in both Hong Kong and the mainland—they’d even thought about the generation gap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guest follows host’s lead; Yan Li wanted to draw closer to the Huangs, so he went along with the fun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had a pile of important matters the next two days—he might not even have time to build relationships.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little Huang Zong took Yan Li to a famous Hong Kong nightclub.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Western influence, Hong Kong’s nightclub culture thrived, attracting many celebrities—Chen Guanxi, Xie Tingfeng, Zhang Baiji, Yu Wenle, and various TVB idols were regulars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In Hong Kong, you can bump into a celebrity at the market. A nightclub without stars? No one goes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the club, bombastic music and flashing lights made Little Huang Zong visibly excited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li outwardly played along, swaying slightly to the beat, but his eyes remained alert.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never let your guard down—even if the Huangs had no ill intentions, such a mixed place was dangerous; if someone slipped something into his drink, he’d be finished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Yan Li rarely went to nightclubs—too noisy, too many unknowns, too unsafe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He preferred upscale clubs; not that they were guaranteed safe, but their higher thresholds filtered out many, offering relatively better security.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After dancing a while, Yan Li voluntarily found a private booth to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little Huang Zong noticed Yan Li seemed unimpressed; recalling his father’s briefing, he whispered to a familiar bartender.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, a woman with voluminous curls approached, smiling brightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little Huang, you haven’t been around in a while—Linna’s been missing you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shut up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little Huang Zong pointed at Yan Li: “This is my honored guest. Bring me your prettiest girls—money’s no object.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No problem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The curly-haired woman grabbed her walkie-talkie, spoke a few words, and soon returned with several girls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little Huang Zong turned to Yan Li: “Master Yan, what do you think?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li had been thinking about the World Cup and had been distracted—he hadn’t expected Little Huang Zong to act so fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t refuse the gesture, so he glanced at them and forced a polite smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not bad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They weren’t unattractive, and their figures were decent—but each was heavily made-up, dyed hair, tattoos, skimpy clothes, slouching postures, their street-weariness impossible to mask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even holding one of these girls made Yan Li feel he’d been taken advantage of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little Huang Zong wasn’t stupid—he saw Yan Li’s distaste. He realized: this man was famed in the mainland entertainment circle for his romantic escapades, always dealing with top-tier actresses—he had high standards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Switch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The curly-haired woman glanced at Yan Li, replaced them with another group; Yan Li still gave polite evaluations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Switch again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After three rounds, Yan Li didn’t like any of them—he felt embarrassed himself and was ready to pick one at random—but Little Huang Zong refused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t just about business—it carried a hint of regional tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He refused to believe Hong Kong couldn’t produce a girl good enough for Yan Li!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You call yourself the Queen of Causeway Bay—if you can’t find someone tonight, take down your sign.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The curly-haired woman’s face darkened, but in service, she had no choice. She thought for a moment, then called an old friend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kim, I’ve got a tough customer—do you have any top-tier models? Send two over.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Help me out—I’m telling you, this guy’s Little Huang Zong from Oriental Film, and the guest is from the mainland—I think he’s some celebrity. You wanted to connect with the entertainment circle, right? Here’s your chance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s picky—and I think he dislikes seasoned girls. Bring someone fresh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The curly-haired woman, seasoned in nightclubs, had sharp eyes—she could roughly guess why Yan Li was so picky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But clean, high-quality girls like that? She didn’t have any—she had to call in favors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About half an hour later, Kim arrived with two girls; the curly-haired woman looked unimpressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So little?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re pushing hard and the conditions are high—how could I find so many at once? These two are all I could get, and I had to use my connections in the entertainment circle to beg for them. Are you sure you’re not lying to me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That guy from the mainland is unpredictable, and I don’t even know Huang Shao. Do these two even meet the criteria?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kim pointed to two slender, naive girls behind her: “These two are under eighteen. If they still aren’t good enough, go find someone else.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, let’s go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group walked toward the private booth. When they were three or four meters away, Kim suddenly stopped, her eyes locking onto Yu Yanli’s direction with sudden gleam. She tugged at the woman with big curls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re in luck—we’ve hit a big fish.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kim was excited but hesitated, glancing at the two girls behind her. Could these newcomers handle a man of this caliber?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the opportunity was rare—she couldn’t let it slip. She’d give it a try.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Firming her resolve, Kim quickly gave them instructions: “That tall, handsome one—he’s a rising star in the mainland entertainment industry, worth hundreds of millions, with endless resources. You must perform your best.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two girls exchanged glances and replied in clear, youthful voices: “Understood, Kim-jie.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group approached Yu Yanli and Little Boss Huang, exchanged a few words, then pushed the two girls forward to introduce themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mr. Yan, hello, I’m Angelababy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mr. Yan, nice to meet you, I’m Janiceman—my Chinese name is Wen Yongshan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yanli looked up at them briefly. They were decent-looking, and more importantly, their aura seemed clean enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they looked awfully young—were they even adults?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He always obeyed the law—he’d never touch a child of the motherland…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Stuck in writing—2000 words owed, will make up later\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",3720,"2026-06-19T16:16:54.562Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","a65de77e1a3004f798f432bd3141d3d106fe7360e63e989a6698ffbc4c25b0da","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-230","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-228",405,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-cover.jpg"]