Chapter 232: Human Relations and Worldly Ways: The Man Who Took the Punishment for His Sister

At a restaurant, Yan Li specially treated some trusted subordinates and old hometown brothers who had contributed to this operation.

Intelligence cannot be casually produced out of thin air.

So Yan Li needed to send people to certain places to make a show of visiting, paying the necessary money; how much intelligence they gathered didn't matter—the key was that people had gone, creating channels and sources that the parties involved would believe.

Dozens of people were scattered out, winding through multiple paths, some even sent twice by different individuals—no one knew who actually provided Yan Li's intelligence.

Additionally, some borderline evidence-gathering was handled by a few trusted brothers.

If things went south, it would all be blamed on their righteous anger and "acting on their own initiative," with zero connection to Yan Li.

Given that this involved his greatest secret and touched on gray areas, Yan Li could not be too cautious.

After dinner, Yan Li had Wu Maowen bring out two suitcases; as the big brother and boss, he couldn't just let his brothers off with a meal.

"Let me be clear: I'm giving you money so you don't waste it—save it up, settle down in Jingcheng early, and don't touch any of that nonsense. Whoever isn't honest, I'll deal with them."

Before handing out the money, Yan Li sternly warned everyone.

Jingcheng is a big city, full of mixed elements; there are always "dangerous" temptations. Losing money isn't the worst—losing your path is the end.

Everyone responded in agreement; these were people Yan Li had carefully selected, and they were tightly managed anyway, so they were all sensible enough to avoid what they shouldn't touch.

After distributing the money and dismissing the group, the brothers left smiling, leaving only a few of Yan Li's most trusted behind.

"Bro, we still have material in hand—why not push a few of them to the brink?"

One of the brothers expressed confusion: Yan Li had said he'd kill a chicken to scare the monkeys, so why had he stopped halfway and made peace?

Didn't that Song Dazui just get dragged in? Yan Li doesn't seem like the kind to be soft-hearted.

"That situation was different from this one."

If possible, Yan Li would have liked to kill a chicken outright, but many things aren't that simple.

That Song Dazui was just a small trash, full of dirt himself, easy to control.

But the ones we're dealing with now aren't any good—they're all troublemakers. Most importantly, when you crush one, the others will feel the fear of a dead rabbit making the fox sad.

Yan Li talks about fighting to the death, but he doesn't actually intend to fight to the death; fighting alone against many isn't easy at all.

Most crucially, there are certain forces here that don't want things to escalate—they want stability and cooling down.

Yan Li can ignore others' faces, but he can't afford to ignore this one.

He can be a prickly ball, fighting for his own interests within reason, but if he keeps pricking endlessly, even the hardest prickly ball will be smashed.

So whether acting as a prickly ball or making demands, Yan Li had clearly mapped out the other side's bottom line before taking targeted action.

Though he didn't push it to the end, he made everyone involved look foolish and bleed a bit—the effect was clear: for now, no one dares to provoke him again.

With this window of time, Yi'an and Yi'an can continue their rapid development.

To forge steel, you must be strong yourself. Once development reaches a certain level, those little devils won't dare to provoke easily; as for the bigger demons, let them fight it out with their own skills.

Business inevitably involves violence and human relations—Yan Li prefers the latter, but he isn't afraid of the former.

…

After the gathering, Wu Maowen, who had deliberately not drunk, drove Yan Li home.

"Where to?"

Wu Maowen asked casually from the driver's seat—he'd watched a Qing dynasty palace drama the day before and increasingly felt his job resembled that of the Imperial Palace's Eunuch in Charge of the Imperial Bedchamber.

But that eunuch only had to flip the imperial plaques—he had to actually drive Yan Li there and pick him up the next day.

Yan Li gave an address that felt unfamiliar; Wu Maowen paused slightly but didn't ask, recalling the route and driving there.

Arriving, Yan Li went upstairs, pulled out a keychain, and tried several unfamiliar keys one by one—on the third, the door unlocked.

Li Bingbing in the living room had heard the noise and stood up to see Yan Li entering.

"You're late?"

"Had a social obligation."

Yan Li glanced around the living room: "Where's your sister?"

Li Bingbing replied warily: "What do you want with her?"

"She's the one who did it—who else should I hold accountable if not her?"

Li Bingbing's home had no suitable slippers, so Yan Li simply went barefoot and sat cross-legged on the sofa like a general.

"Go get me a glass of water."

"Who are you ordering around?"

Li Bingbing grumbled but still poured him a glass of warm water, then said:

"If you're going to defend Fan Xiaopang, take it out on me—don't drag my sister into this."

"You two are a pair of fools."

Yan Li stared at Li Bingbing in disbelief; honestly, when he learned from the system that these two sisters were behind it, he was genuinely disappointed.

Li Bingbing's fear of Fan Xiaopang is understandable—spreading rumors, leaking dirt, slandering—none of that's wrong.

The two sides have always been rivals: not only do Li Bingbing and her sister do this, but Fan Xiaopang's side hasn't held back either.

But they're rivals and collaborators alike—"Double Bing" means "Double Bing as One"—fighting without breaking ties, using dirty tactics but never lethal ones.

If Fan Xiaopang were truly crushed, how could Li Bingbing alone stand against the Four Little Divas and the other rising stars?

So no matter how fiercely they fight daily, when real trouble strikes, they shouldn't kick someone while they're down—they should lend a hand.

Yan Li had explained this logic to Fan Xiaopang and the Li sisters before—he thought they all understood, but at the critical moment, they still couldn't tell close from distant.

Especially Li Xue—he'd already figured out she was the one who instigated this.

Originally, according to Li Bingbing's own wishes, even if she didn't help, she'd stay out of it entirely—but Li Xue goaded and manipulated her until Li Bingbing tacitly approved her involvement.

Li Xue's motives for getting involved were complex.

There were career considerations, resentment toward Fan Xiaopang personally, and even a touch of misplaced blame toward Yan Li.

Yan Li's affair with her sister had表面上 been settled, but inside, she still held a grudge.

It's not that love turned to hatred, but love turned to resentment; she couldn't strike her own elder sister, so she vented her fury on Yan Li or his favorite Fan Xiaopang.

"Idiot!"

Yan Li had already called and scolded the two sisters before; now he showed up again to reprimand them, making Li Bingbing also grow impatient.

She and Yan Li were more like collaborators—helping each other out, with little sense of dependence.

She often listened to Yan Li because he treated her and her sister well, and his advice aligned with their interests—but that didn't mean she'd let him scold her endlessly.

"It's never-ending. We didn't start this— we just added a little fuel to the fire."

"If you insist on defending that seductive fox, you've got my dirt too—just expose it. I'll take the blame along with you."

"..."

Yan Li glanced at her, nodded, and stood up to put on his shoes and leave.

Li Bingbing watched beside him, seeing clearly that Yan Li wasn't just pretending—he'd put on his shoes and was about to walk out—so she couldn't help but reach out and grab him.

"You really plan to expose my dirt?"

"We've been friends this long—I'm not that cruel. But since you've said that, there's nothing left to discuss. From now on, we go our separate ways."

As he spoke, Yan Li removed the key Li Bingbing had given him from his keychain.

"Wait."

Seeing Yan Li's stance of severing all ties, Li Bingbing grew uneasy and softened her tone.

"We did wrong this time—I'll give you whatever explanation you want, but you can't keep scolding us forever."

"Where did I get it wrong? Aren't you two idiots?"

Yan Li's tone turned stern: "You think I'm just defending Fan Bingbing? Don't you know she's backed by me? If she's in trouble, do you think I'll be safe?"

"We've known each other for years—ask yourself honestly: where have I ever failed you two? When you had problems, when did I ever let you down? Now, when I'm in trouble, you won't help—and worse, you stab me in the back. If it were you, wouldn't you be heartbroken?"

Li Bingbing hung her head under Yan Li's scolding; if he'd blamed Fan Xiaopang, she'd have resisted.

But when Yan Li turned the issue to himself, Li Bingbing had no reply.

In the end, it truly was the two sisters who acted improperly.

Seeing Li Bingbing submit, Yan Li gradually softened his tone.

Though the two sisters had erred, it wasn't an irreparable mistake; the Li Bingbing card was still useful—abandoning it would be a waste.

Besides, Li Bingbing was Hua Yi's top star, and Li Xue was a senior talent agent at Hua Yi.

Yan Li's closeness to them was like a thorn stuck in the hearts of the Wang brothers at Hua Yi; keeping them was painful, letting them go was painful—but if he severed ties with Li Bingbing, he'd be pushing them straight into Hua Yi's arms.

Yan Li refused to arm his enemy!

This visit, though Yan Li spoke harshly, his main goal was to warn them—to make Li Bingbing and her sister learn their lesson and never repeat it.

Sigh, leading a team is truly hard.

Especially a team with such complicated dynamics—everyone has their own agenda. You must balance interests, preserve unity, constantly warn them, remind them, punish mistakes, and draw them close when there's no trouble—all while carefully judging the right measure.

Only Yan Li's sharpness, plus his system's cheat, could possibly manage these women.

Under Yan Li's mix of scolding and coaxing, Li Bingbing admitted fault and vowed never to repeat such a mistake.

The only condition: her sister—she'd handle her own education, no need for Yan Li to worry.

Yan Li didn't argue, but since she took the blame, she'd also take the punishment for her sister.

If Ice and Snow Riding can only watch longingly, then let's ride Bing Yan and charge full speed ahead...

The next day, Yan Li finished his shower and was changing into the clothes Wu Maowen had just delivered, preparing for work.

The door opened; Li Xue entered carrying several breakfast bags, and paused, startled to see Yan Li putting on his pants.

"Cough—good morning."

Yan Li fastened his belt and awkwardly greeted her; Li Xue nodded but said nothing.

"..."

Yan Li feigned checking his watch, said he'd be late, and put on his shoes to leave.

Seeing his haste, Li Xue handed him one of the breakfast bags.

"No thanks—you probably don't have enough. I'll grab something on the way."

Yan Li waved it off, opened the door, and left. After he was gone, Li Xue held the breakfast bag, intending to place it on the dining table.

But she noticed the table was unnaturally clean—the cups, teapot, everything was gone—and the table's position and orientation felt crooked and disordered.

Li Xue: "..."

After hesitating, Li Xue placed the breakfast in the kitchen, then pushed open the bedroom door to check on Li Bingbing.

There she saw her sister fast asleep, with scattered, cool undergarments and silk stockings on the floor beside the bed.

She'd planned to leave quietly, but curiosity got the better of her—she couldn't help waking Li Bingbing.

"Stop it, I really can't anymore."

Li Bingbing groaned, burrowing deeper under the thin blanket; Li Xue's emotions were complicated, and she pinched her hard.

"It's me."

Li Bingbing blinked sleepily, saw Li Xue, froze for a moment, then snapped awake. She cleared her throat and pulled the blanket tighter over herself.

"Xue'er, go out first."

It wasn't like she hadn't seen it before—Li Xue rolled her eyes—but seeing Li Bingbing like this made her uneasy, so she nodded and turned away.

After a while, Li Bingbing emerged wearing a nightgown, looking reasonably well—except her knees were red.

Li Xue clenched her teeth: "That bastard really knows how to wear people out."

Feeling her sister's gaze, Li Bingbing tugged the nightgown down—but it was too short to cover. She gave up and just let it be.

"He came over yesterday and scolded me..."

Li Bingbing shared with her sister the conversation she had with Yan Li last night.

"This matter is over, and it won't happen again. You must put those thoughts away—if you push him too far, even I can't protect you."

Li Bingbing tried to comfort her sister, but Li Xue was resentful: "Talk all you want, but you're still siding with that fox."

"Enough."

Li Bingbing looked at Li Xue seriously: "I know you're bitter, but this is fate. If you really can't handle it, take it out on me—but don't go too far."

Previously, the Li sisters, while valuing Yan Li, didn't feel so dependent on him.

But as Yan Li moved into film and Li Bingbing shifted her focus to movies, she inevitably had more dealings with Yan Li.

The Li sisters didn't want to break ties with Yan Li; even this time, they acted secretly, never expecting Yan Li to find out—otherwise, they'd never have moved so rashly.

Li Xue gathered her breath, then finally nodded. Seeing her sister's posture, Li Bingbing felt a pang of guilt.

Her sister's resentment weighed heavily on her.

To resolve this, either she must cut ties with Yan Li, or quickly find someone for her sister.

Li Bingbing felt the latter choice was safer.

Her sister was at an age for marriage; previously fixated on Yan Li, now that this was over, getting married would settle her heart and spare Yan Li from using this to scare her daily.

As she thought this, Li Bingbing unconsciously rubbed her knees, silently cursing that bastard—he'd regret it; next time, she'd ride him back.

————

Yi'an Film & Television, conference room

After finishing meetings with the film and distribution departments, Yan Li began dividing up the "spoils" with the artist management department.

This time, the gains were substantial, especially since many involved actresses, with a significant portion tied to artist resources—including film, advertising, endorsements, and more.

Among them, Fan Xiaopang, as the victim, received the most criticism—and also the largest share of benefits.

Most of the advertising endorsements were assigned to her, with a few going to Wang Ou.

Fan Xiaopang didn't want to give Wang Ou an easy win, but she was too busy, and the company had no other female artists, so she had no choice.

Besides endorsements, there was also a TV drama's female lead role; Fan Xiaopang didn't want it, so she gave it to Wang Ou.

Other film and TV resources were divided among Zhou Yi, Lin Jiachuan, and others; if they couldn't absorb them, they traded them out.

But the two most discussed and important film resources Yan Li negotiated with artist management were the big concessions from Orange Sky and Huayi—

Orange Sky's co-investment in *Red Cliff* and a key role in Feng Xiaogang's new film *The Assembly*.

First, *Red Cliff*: this film has recently made major breakthroughs.

Through China Film's mediation, Orange Sky—or rather, its Japanese backer—is preparing to invest $20 million.

With such a massive investment, Orange Sky naturally has demands: they intend to promote their own artist for a major role in this super-production.

Yan Li reached an agreement with Orange Sky and Han Sanye, the mediator: in return, Yi'an gets one key role.

*Red Cliff* has enormous funding and is drawing industry-wide attention, with a star-studded cast planned; even if the film's quality is uncertain, appearing in it greatly boosts an artist's status and exposure.

Yan Li previously had Fan Xiaopang star in *Mo Gong* for this exact reason; pushing someone into *Red Cliff* follows the same logic.

*Red Cliff*'s cast is too stellar; Yi'an's other artists can't compete for good roles, so they can only push Fan Xiaopang, their most famous.

*Red Cliff* is a man's film; there are few substantial female roles.

Yan Li's top choice was undoubtedly Xiao Qiao, the female lead—but the production team was determined to promote someone else, so he settled for Sun Shangxiang.

Coincidentally, the production team's top candidate for Sun Shangxiang was Xiao Yanzi; if Fan Xiaopang wanted the role, Xiao Yanzi was willing to step aside as part of the deal.

With Xiao Yanzi stepping down, and China Film, Orange Sky, and Yi'an uniting, the role was virtually guaranteed.

As for *The Assembly*, the situation was slightly more complicated.

Yan Li wanted the male lead, but the Wang brothers weren't fools—they flatly refused, offering instead to give Yi'an the female lead.

But Yan Li had already used his system to scout the options: Sun Shangxiang had some screen time in *Red Cliff*, while the female lead in *The Assembly* was just a supporting role—he'd rather take the male second lead.

Yet even securing the male second lead proved troublesome: Feng Xiaogang had high standards and didn't like just anyone.

Zhou Yi, whom Yi'an originally proposed, was immediately rejected.

Any actor recommendation had to be approved by the director—that was the agreed rule; no blind suggestions.

For *Red Cliff*, the three parties could persuade Wu Yuzhen; for *The Assembly*, Feng Xiaogang held far greater authority.

Zhou Yi was out; Zhang Zhilin's schedule was full, and he'd already been given *The Gatekeeper*—he was too well-fed; what if he started complaining of hunger later?

Zhang Zhilin and Fan Xiaopang were fundamentally different!

The remaining candidate Yi'an approached, Qiao Zhenyu, was also dismissed by Feng Xiaogang.

But he wasn't being difficult—he had someone specific in mind: Yan Li.

Feng Xiaogang wanted Yan Li, but Yan Li heard the film would shoot for months, with over a month of pre-training in Northeast China, and immediately declined.

Too long—he didn't have the time.

The situation stalled, but Yan Li wasn't worried—he already had some directions in mind.

*The Assembly* was scheduled to shoot in September or October, with over a month of training before filming began, so casting was already underway; Huayi wasn't without suitable candidates.

And from Huayi's list, Yan Li had picked one suitable candidate.

As for artist management, Yi'an had been operating for some time.

Among its artists, Fan Xiaopang was unquestionably Yi'an's number one female artist; its number one male artist was currently Zhang Zhilin.

Yan Li had a good impression of Zhang Zhilin, but his Xiangjiang identity made him unsuitable as the company's number one male artist.

After all, Yi'an was a mainland company aiming to become the mainland's top studio; if the number one female artist was a mainland darling, the number one male artist must also be a mainland heartthrob.

Moreover, Zhang Zhilin was married, preferred steady acting over fame, and lacked strong idol appeal and commercial clout—all significant drawbacks.

Zhang Zhilin was currently the most popular, so who else could be Yi'an's number one male artist? But Yan Li's private plan was to promote another mainland young male actor.

Originally, he'd planned for Qiao Zhenyu, but Yan Li always felt this guy lacked ambition and drive—he might not hold the number one spot firmly.

Yan Li didn't want Yi'an's number one male artist—he wanted someone like Fan Xiaopang: someone aiming to be the mainland's number one male artist.

Ambition, ability, and drive must all be in place—you can't just be tough within your company; you must be able to fight, even overpower, the top figures of other companies.

Qiao Zhenyu probably can't do it, and even his good friend Zhou Yi is unlikely to manage.

Yan Li scanned around but found few candidates worth considering; only with the help of the system's monthly intelligence alerts did he finally narrow down one choice.

…

Jingcheng, a certain residential complex

Sun Li looked at her gloomy boyfriend and comforted him: "Don't be upset. If this film falls through, there'll be other opportunities. When I'm done with my work next month, we'll go to Sanya to relax."

Deng Chao glanced at his girlfriend and forced a smile.

He understood all this, but losing a role he was so close to landing—no one would take it well.

After all, this was Feng Xiaogang's film—it would have been a crucial boost to his career.

At the same time, he'd planned to use this movie as a stepping stone to get closer to Huayi Brothers, but now that plan was ruined too.

Sigh!

Deng Chao couldn't help but sigh; truth be told, his ambition wasn't especially strong.

His drive to climb higher came not just from within, but partly from pressure exerted by his girlfriend.

Sun Li was more famous than him, and she was the top actress at Hai Run—her fame, connections, and resources all overshadowed him.

His male pride and sense of crisis pushed Deng Chao to seek out bigger companies and pursue higher, better career prospects.

As they were talking, Deng Chao's phone rang; he pulled it out, his eyes widened slightly, and he quickly answered.

"Hello, Boss Yan… I'm free, I'm free, yes yes, XX Restaurant, I've noted it, I'm on my way now."

After hanging up, Sun Li asked curiously: "Boss Yan? Which Boss Yan?"

"Yan Li from Yi'an."

"What does he want with you?"

"I don't know."

Deng Chao said he didn't know, but inside he suspected it had something to do with The Assembly Call—Huayi Brothers had already said the one who snatched his role was Yan Li.

Regardless, a big boss's invitation couldn't be ignored; Deng Chao immediately drove to the meeting place.

When he arrived, he called, and soon was led into a private room where only Yan Li was waiting.

"Sit."

Yan Li turned the lazy Susan: "I remember you're from Nanchang. The head chef here is your fellow townsman—I specifically ordered your local dishes. Try them and see if they're authentic."

Deng Chao, flattered, took the menu; though he didn't know Yan Li's intent, this gesture couldn't be a bad sign.

After ordering, Yan Li and Deng Chao exchanged pleasantries, then steered the conversation toward The Assembly Call.

"Did Huayi Brothers blame everything on me?"

Yan Li asked with a smile—he didn't need the system's alert to know; the Wang brothers had surely buried countless traps for him behind his back.

Deng Chao dared not meddle in the big bosses' feud; he gave an awkward smile and said nothing.

Yan Li didn't mind and asked again: "Do you know why Huayi Brothers handed the role in The Assembly Call over to me?"

"I'm not sure."

Deng Chao initially didn't dare speak the truth, but seeing Yan Li's knowing expression, he finally let it out.

"There's talk in the industry that you've had the upper hand in your dealings with Huayi and other companies…"

He didn't finish the sentence, but the meaning was clear; Yan Li nodded: "Losing a role you were about to land must be frustrating."

Deng Chao opened his mouth to reply, but Yan Li added: "It's just you and me today—be honest, no games, tell me the truth."

After a moment of silence, Deng Chao nodded: "You're an actor too—no actor feels good after having a role taken from them."

Yan Li asked again: "Then do you know why you were the one taken from?"

"I don't know."

Deng Chao shook his head: "I haven't offended you."

"You haven't offended me, and I'm not targeting you—our deal simply happened to involve your role. When two sides reach an agreement, you become the expendable one. That's all."

Yan Li laid out the truth; Deng Chao's expression shifted, unsure what to say, so he remained silent.

"Do you know why you became the expendable one?"

Yan Li asked again, and before Deng Chao could react, he continued: "Because you're not famous enough. Because you have no patron."

"If this role were meant for Ge You, no one could snatch it—and no one would dare."

"I targeted the second male lead instead of the lead because the lead, Zhang Hanyu, is Feng Xiaogang's protected protégé—and he's about to join Huayi Brothers, whom the Wang brothers will also support."

Watching Deng Chao's fluctuating expression, Yan Li said no more, letting him process it alone.

After several minutes, Deng Chao finally spoke: "Boss Yan, you didn't call me here just to give me a lecture, did you?"

"Of course not—I don't have that much free time."

Yan Li sipped his tea: "Simple question: Do you want that role back?"

Deng Chao asked: "What's the condition?"

Yan Li said, surprised: "Aren't you shocked by this?"

Deng Chao shook his head, calmly: "I already figured it out just now. A boss of your stature wouldn't summon me just to mess with me—asking about The Assembly Call makes your intent obvious."

"A smart man."

Yan Li smiled with appreciation: "I like smart men. Interested in joining Yi'an? This role is your welcome gift."

You stole my role—and now you're offering it back as a welcome gift!

Even though Deng Chao had prepared himself, he still sucked in a breath, keeping his composure.

"A supporting role in one movie isn't enough to bind me for the next few years."

"I already said—it's just a welcome gift."

Yan Li knew that relying solely on "The Assembly Call" wouldn't secure Deng Chao; even if he did secure him, it wouldn't be the talent he wanted.

"Since you came to Yi'an, resources won't be lacking. By the way, I heard about the project your teacher wants to make—the story's decent, the company can invest, and you'll play the male lead."

Deng Chao gripped his pants under the table: "Mr. Wang from Huayi greatly appreciates me."

Yan Li glanced at him and pulled out two chopsticks: "Do you know what 'one mountain cannot hold two tigers' means?"

Deng Chao didn't understand, so Yan Li explained: "Li Bingbing is Huayi's top female star. Now they've signed Zhou Xun, whose fame and status even surpass hers slightly. Do you think they'll clash?"

"... Let them clash."

"Let me tell you another not-so-secret secret: Huayi and Huang Xiaoming have basically reached an agreement—Lu Dingji is very likely to be cast as him. If you join Huayi, you'll be competing with this rising mainland heartthrob for the top male role."

Deng Chao objected: "But Yi'an also has Zhang Zhilin."

"Correct—not just Zhang Zhilin, but also Qiao Zhenyu. Chu Liuxiang in 'The Legend of Chu Liuxiang' is virtually already locked in for him. If you come to Yi'an, you'll be competing with both of them for the top male role."

Deng Chao was stunned. Wasn't this supposed to be a pitch about Yi'an's harmony, contrasting Huayi's cruelty? Why was it turning into reverse promotion?

Yan Li saw his confusion: "It's all true. No need to hide it—hiding would be pointless. Competition is unavoidable, but I believe you'll win."

Deng Chao, slightly surprised: "You have that much faith in me?"

"It's not faith—I'll back you. If I back you, you'll definitely win. Similarly, Huayi backs Huang Xiaoming harder—you'll definitely lose if you go there."

Yan Li laid it all out: there's no such thing as fair internal competition—if everything were fair, who'd bother with top male and top female roles at all?

"..."

Deng Chao's emotions were complicated. He'd considered signing with Yi'an, but still leaned toward the stronger Huayi—yet Yan Li's offer was deeply tempting.

There was another key factor: he deeply admired Yan Li's abilities and experience.

He wasn't a fan or a groupie, but he held strong affection for him.

Following such a charismatic leader was a powerful lure for Deng Chao.

Especially after Yan Li defended Fan Xiaopang recently—this further improved Deng Chao's impression of Yan Li.

Though Fan Xiaopang and Yan Li were close, it still revealed Yan Li's character: if he could protect his girlfriend so fiercely, he wouldn't abandon his own employees when trouble struck.

Actors seek companies not just for resources, but for a backer—whether that backer can be relied upon is crucial.

Deng Chao was tempted, but this decision was too major—it could affect his next few years, even his entire career. He couldn't decide on a whim.

Besides his own careful consideration, he needed to consult family, his girlfriend, friends, and even team members who might follow him.

So Deng Chao asked Yan Li for a few days to think it over. Yan Li had no objection, and gave him a small parting gift.

"Paparazzi have been watching you and Sun Li lately. Be careful. If you need help, I can handle this problem for you."

Deng Chao stared at Yan Li in slight shock. His relationship with Sun Li was secret—outside the industry, no one knew; even inside, very few were aware.

Yet Yan Li not only knew about their romance, but also knew the paparazzi were tailing them.

This kind of reach...

Deng Chao's gaze toward Yan Li unconsciously gained a touch of awe. The boss was impressive—he could protect you, but could also easily control you.

Yan Li calmly lit a cigarette. He'd deliberately shown off his strength. A boss must combine kindness with authority—make subordinates understand his power.

He wasn't worried Deng Chao would be scared off. If he lacked this much courage, he wasn't worth cultivating anyway. Better he left.

Still, Yan Li had to admit—he admired this kid. He'd even stolen away Huairun's boss's top actor.

Boss Liu was decent too—he let go of the company's top female star as if it were nothing.

Hmm, maybe there's a new rising star, or maybe he's just too old to hold on.

Yan Li felt a touch of pride. Among all the financiers in the entertainment industry, he wasn't the richest, nor the most handsome.

But in terms of combat power, Yan Li was unquestionably the undisputed champion...

(End of Chapter)