Chapter 238: Whether It

The Yi'an version of "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang" retains the style of "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng."

That is, an episodic detective drama.

However, compared to the fast-paced four-to-five-episode arcs of "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng," "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang" has far fewer episodes per unit.

The first unit, "Blood Sea Drifting Fragrance," features Chu Liuxiang facing off against Wu Hua and Nan Gong Ling of the Beggar's Sect.

The second unit, "The Great Desert," features the villain Shi Guanyin and related plots involving the Kucha Kingdom.

The third unit, "The Painted Sparrow," centers on the main antagonist, Shui Mu Yin Ji, the mistress of the Divine Water Palace.

These three units total thirty episodes, averaging ten episodes per unit, with some transitional and character-developing plots woven in.

After all, television dramas aren't novels—you can't summarize everything in a few sentences; important supporting characters need proper personal story arcs.

Anyone familiar with the Chu Liuxiang series knows the novel originally had eight units, but the final one, "Midnight Orchid," is suspected to be a forgery; the first seven are widely accepted.

The three units above are all part of the first season of "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang."

Although the story has episodic structure, there are many interconnections, making it a long-form novel.

These three units are also the most influential in the entire Chu Liuxiang series.

The subsequent units were sequels written by Gu Long, titled "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang," featuring characters like Xue Yiren, Zuo Qinghou, the Bat Prince, and the Mahayana Holy Sect.

The plots are more scattered, with stronger episodic qualities, and their quality and reception are slightly lower than the first season, with less overall impact.

When preparing "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang," the writing and production teams extensively discussed adaptation plans.

"The Legend of Chu Liuxiang" itself isn't as fast-paced as "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng," and it has more supporting characters; compressing it into four-to-five-episode units would require cutting too much plot.

The fast-paced episodic structure of "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" received much praise, but also some controversy.

Many felt that certain original plotlines were cut or altered, making some arcs feel overly simplistic or abrupt.

Supporting characters were underdeveloped—villains like the Old Man and Gong Jiu, beloved by countless Gu Long fans, ended up with barely any screen time.

Actresses like Fan Xiaopang, Sun Li, and An Yixuan, along with other charismatic roles, appeared for only a few episodes before disappearing—such a waste.

The production team, taking these flaws into account and considering both the source material and the actors, ultimately extended each unit to ten episodes.

More than that wouldn't work—it would feel bloated; ten episodes struck the perfect balance, enriching plot and characters without becoming tedious.

A ten-episode unit for every single "Chu Liuxiang" arc would require sixty to seventy episodes total, raising production costs and increasing financial risk.

So Yanli personally decided: "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang" would start with thirty episodes.

If performance is strong, they could later produce a sequel—"The New Legend of Chu Liuxiang" or "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang 2"—using later units.

This is a well-worn tactic in the film and television industry.

"The Investiture of the Gods" followed the same pattern: if one part couldn't cover everything, split it into two to share the risk.

If the first part does well, the sequel commands a higher price; if it flops and no one watches, there's no need to make a sequel.

And because it's split into two parts, they ensure the original cast remains available for the second season.

For casting "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang," especially for characters appearing in both seasons, they favored "insiders."

In plain terms: you get paid for the first season, but you must reserve your schedule for the second.

This demand isn't unreasonable—or it is, depending on perspective.

But given that "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang" is a hot project, most actors—except a few with tight schedules—were willing to cooperate.

Yanli didn't get deeply involved in casting, but he personally approved many roles.

Chu Liuxiang was one of the earliest roles decided—even while filming "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng," Yanli already had ideas.

Many companies and production executives recommended others: Jiao Enjun, Yan Kuan, Chen Kun, and so on.

But Yanli rejected them all.

Jiao Enjun's appearance and acting were fine, but he was too old.

He could play mature, stoic, solemn roles like Erlang Shen or Ye Gucheng, but playing Chu Liuxiang made him seem too aged.

Yan Kuan and Chen Kun were similarly unsuitable in appearance and aura.

Of course, this doesn't mean Yanli's pick, Qiao Zhenyu, perfectly fit Chu Liuxiang.

You could list dozens of flaws: his physique is too delicate, his aura too upright, his acting unpolished—but he had three critical advantages.

He's good-looking, young, and signed with Yi'an!

No one can perfectly portray Chu Liuxiang—a flawless literary character, filtered through countless fans' idealizations, with Zheng Shaoqiu's classic version still looming large; anyone cast would fail to satisfy everyone.

When casting "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng," Yanli was heavily criticized; from then on, he learned a lesson.

You can never please everyone.

Even if you pulled Chu Liuxiang himself out of the book, someone would still say he didn't match their vision.

So pick someone reasonably suitable—and most beneficial to your interests.

At the very least, Qiao Zhenyu's face holds up.

He won't be some fat, rustic guy turning the Gentleman Thief into the Pathetic Thief.

So Qiao Zhenyu may face criticism and skepticism, but not enough to make most viewers abandon the show outright—other aspects of the drama can gradually shape him into a believable Chu Liuxiang.

The charm of audiovisual media is giving your imagination an anchor, then grounding it in reality.

You can't reach 100, or even 90, or even 80—but 70 to 75 isn't bad.

Yanli is a businessman, not an artist.

While he personally values high-quality production, his main goal is still to make more money.

For him, the difference between 70 and 80 isn't significant if the earnings are roughly the same—especially since 70 can generate profit elsewhere.

Jiao Enjun may be perfect, Yan Kuan may be stunningly handsome—but Yanli can't make money off them.

"The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" made Zhang Zhilin a star; "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang" will definitely boost the lead actor's fame.

Qiao Zhenyu is young and handsome; even if he lacks drive, he has cultivation potential—he may not become the top male star in mainland China, but as a top-tier leading man, he can earn plenty.

Chen Kun is the top star at Rongxinda; he's unlikely to switch studios. Jiao Enjun is older, with low cultivation value.

If Yan Kuan had come, Yanli might have hesitated—but last year he signed with a new company.

Besides, Yanli has already secured Deng Chao; Qiao Zhenyu lacks ambition, so conflict with Deng Chao is minimal. But if Yan Kuan came, who knows if a top-star rivalry would erupt?

So overall, Qiao Zhenyu isn't the best Chu Liuxiang candidate—but for Yanli, he's the most "right."

Don't choose the best—choose the most "right."

Similarly, for other roles in "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang," many practical factors must be weighed, not just suitability.

Outsiders criticize Zhang Jizhong and Huayi for nepotism, but Yanli isn't much better—in fact, he's worse.

Zhang Jizhong and Huayi still use outsiders; Yanli genuinely prefers insiders and acquaintances.

His good reputation in the industry and the fierce loyalty he inspires among insiders aren't without reason—if he likes you, he'll truly push you.

For Chu Liuxiang, actor Qiao Zhenyu was known from "Snow Goddess Dragon," and he played the lover of the Sixth Fairy in "The Seven Fairies."

Hu Tiehua's actor, Wu Yue, played the lover of the Fourth Fairy in "The Seven Fairies," and also starred in "The White-Haired Witch"—another old acquaintance of Yanli's.

Ji Bingyan's actor is a newcomer: Zhao Hongfei, who played Duoduo in "Secret History of Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang" and Yelü Qi in "The Legend of the Condor Heroes."

This guy is a specialist in wuxia and Qing-dynasty dramas—he's acted in many of both genres, with solid appearance and acting skills, making him perfect for Ji Bingyan's cold, sharp, slightly tsundere character.

For the female lead group, Su Rongrong is played by Dong Xuan.

No need to introduce her—she hadn't been cast in previous dramas, so it was her turn.

She was chosen for Su Rongrong because the role is nominally the female lead, and the character blends strength and gentleness—heroic yet tender and sweet—perfect for Dong Xuan.

But because of Dong Xuan, many insiders couldn't be used.

The Teddy Sisters wouldn't dare show up; Wang Ou, Yang Rong, and Wu Jiani didn't want to provoke her, and they were busy with other projects and dance studios.

Jiang Xin and Li Lin from "The Seven Fairies" were both cast in Fan Xiaopang's "The Legend of Yang Yuhuan."

So, besides Yang Xue as Li Hongxiu and Guan Yue in a semi-cameo role, "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang" used several "outsiders."

For example, Shu Chang as Song Tian'er.

Song Tian'er is pure, cute, playful, and lively—Shu Chang's comfort zone, a perfect fit.

The reason for choosing Shu Chang is simple: she's famous.

Her roles in last year's "Jingwei Filling the Sea" and "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" made her one of the hottest young actresses now, bringing real benefits to the production.

Notably, Shu Chang was poached from another project.

She was originally slated to play Princess Jianning in "The Legend of Wei Xiaobao," but due to someone's interference, Hu Siyan snatched the role.

As negotiations with "The Legend of Wei Xiaobao" were underway to switch roles or arrange future collaboration,

"The Legend of Chu Liuxiang" approached her directly, offering a substantial role as Song Tian'er, pulling the dissatisfied Shu Chang into their own production.

The three main leads—Chu, Hu, Ji—plus Chu Liuxiang's three romantic interests—Su, Song, Li—six core characters, four of whom are insiders; only Zhao Hongfei and Shu Chang are first-time collaborators.

Other supporting roles also feature many insiders or connections.

For example, the monk Wu Hua is played by Cui Peng, Dong Xuan's college classmate; his casting was facilitated by Dong Xuan's recommendation.

Yuan Shanshan, who plays Shi Guanyin's disciple, also has Dong Xuan's influence behind her.

Others include Han Xue (Gong Nanyan), Mu Tingting (Liu Wumei), Yang Tongshu (Shui Mu Yin Ji), Choo Ja-hyun (Shi Guanyin), and Tong Yaya (Kucha Princess).

Yang Tongshu and Han Xue were both previously known to Yanli—the former was invited directly, the latter was recommended.

Mu Tingting and Tong Yaya were cast through standard selection; Yanli doesn't favor insiders exclusively—he chooses based on suitability.

Besides main roles, he doesn't get deeply involved in casting many supporting parts; some insiders got roles because someone recommended them, or because Yanli saw them and preferred familiar faces.

As for Choo Ja-hyun, Yanli only later learned she was Korean and barely spoke Mandarin.

At first, Yanli wanted to replace her—but the recommender, Yu Zheng, came to him with her costume photos and audition clips; Yanli, seeing her limited screen time, reluctantly granted Yu Zheng a favor.

Yanli not only prefers insiders over outsiders, but also has a regional bias—he favors mainland actors.

He doesn't reject Hong Kong, Taiwan, or foreign actors, but he's not enthusiastic about them; if they can't speak Mandarin well, they're especially disadvantaged in his eyes.

…

The casting announcement for "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang" stole the spotlight from "The Deer and the Cauldron."

Unsurprisingly, Qiao Zhenyu also became embroiled in casting controversy.

However, due to his lower fame and better reputation, plus less noticeable mismatch, he was somewhat better off than Huang Xiaoming.

Aside from Qiao and Huang, the two absolute leads.

The female roles in "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang" were constantly compared to Wei Xiaobao's seven wives in "The Deer and the Cauldron."

Without comparison, you wouldn't realize it—but once you compare, Yan Li's aesthetic becomes clear.

"Beauty with rouge" isn't just a nickname; set aside fame and acting skills, not one of them was unattractive.

Dong Xuan was famously known as the icy goddess and the heroic third fairy; Yang Xue had "Sixth Fairy" and Jiang Yuyan as her signature roles; Shu Chang needed no introduction.

Several supporting roles or those with lesser fame and career stature still possessed undeniable charm, including newcomers Tong Yaya, Yuan Shanshan, and Mu Tingting—all prettier than Li Feier and He Zhuoyan from "The Deer and the Cauldron."

Tianya, always eager for drama, launched a voting poll comparing the two dramas' castings.

"The Legend of Chu Liuxiang" won decisively, 61% to 39%.

The longer Yan Li worked in the industry, the more he felt the phrase from this year's breakout stand-up comedian—"It's all thanks to the competition"—was brilliantly accurate.

Sometimes victory doesn't require you to do exceptionally well—it just requires you to do better than your opponent.

These two dramas, already under intense scrutiny and automatically compared, now intensified their rivalry after the casting storm.

The impatient Zhang Dahuzi stepped forward to praise the actors of "The Deer and the Cauldron" and implied that certain rivals were spreading mud.

According to past patterns, Yan Li should have stepped out to refute and mock, sparking another war of words.

But no one expected that "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang" responded to Zhang Dahuzi.

But this time, the speaker wasn't Yan Li—it was the drama's producer and newly appointed Yian TV Department director, Wang Decai.

This move carried too much information—it even rattled Zhang Dahuzi.

What the hell does this brat mean? Sending a junior to fight me? Does he think I'm weak?!

Zhang Dahuzi was wrong—it wasn't Yan Li looking down on him, it was Wang Decai.

Wang Decai believed that Zhang Dahuzi, having joined Huayi, was now subordinate to the Wang brothers.

Yan Li and the Wang brothers were bosses—how could a boss fight with a subordinate of the other side?

Soldiers fight soldiers, officers fight officers, generals fight generals!

So old Wang volunteered, letting Yan Li hold the line while he took on Zhang Dahuzi alone.

Yan Li didn't think it was that simple.

Although Zhang Dahuzi joined Huayi, their relationship leaned more toward partnership; even the Wang brothers had to give him some face—it couldn't be reduced to just "subordinate."

Today's Huayi, besides the Wang brothers, only had Feng and Zhang—and even those two had to flatter these two, showing Zhang Dahuzi's status.

Moreover, Old Zhang's influence in the industry was no small matter—he was one of the top two TV producers on the mainland, with deep seniority and an impressive track record, a true industry elder.

Ordinary people trying to argue with him would barely get a response.

But old Wang wanted to try, and Yan Li supported his subordinate stepping up—if things went badly, he'd step in himself.

Sure enough, though rattled, Zhang Dahuzi ignored Wang Decai entirely.

Not only did Zhang Dahuzi refuse to engage, the audience wouldn't allow it either.

This was the Jin-Gu battle, the clash between two generations of producers—everyone wanted to see two titans fight; who the hell was Wang Decai?

Comments under Yan Li's blog were full of netizens stoking the fire.

One moment they said young people shouldn't be so aloof—when you're young, be bold, don't act like an old fossil.

The next moment they accused him of forgetting his roots—where was the boldness and passion he once showed when he openly cursed Zhang Dahuzi?

Then they earnestly urged that the soul of the Jin-Gu battle was precisely the clash between these two outstanding producers—change the players and it loses its flavor.

Someone advised Zhang Dahuzi to insult him more harshly, or even make a bet—say, the loser runs naked down Chang'an Street.

With Yan Li so young, he'd surely be provoked into responding.

Zhang Dahuzi: "..."

Yan Li: "..."

Yet facing the public outcry, Yan Li did speak out—he posted a blog.

【I didn't want to bully the elderly, but given everyone's high expectations, I can only continue sparring with Teacher Zhang...】

At just 25, Yan Li wasn't that arrogant—he actually enjoyed the spotlight and public attention.

As soon as Yan Li spoke, Zhang Dahuzi immediately replied.

"Bully the elderly? When I was making TV dramas, he wasn't even born. If he wants to spar, I'll oblige—just don't say I'm picking on a kid."

Yan Li: "Teacher Zhang has been in the business over twenty years longer than me, yet you're still sparring with a young man like me—hmm, your growth speed is truly impressive."

Zhang Dahuzi: "Someone once said that to me too—but over these twenty years, they all vanished. The sea of art is turbulent; young man, first prove you can stay a few more years."

"..."

Watching the two trade barbs across the void, netizens and media were moved to tears.

It's back! Everything's back! This is the real flavor!

————

The casting controversy and the Jin-Gu battle brought massive heat to "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang."

The crew was scheduled to start filming in September, but TV stations were already calling to inquire about prices.

But such a flagship project couldn't be sold so quickly—it needed more hype; the hotter it got, the higher the price.

Perhaps Zhang Dahuzi would even hand over "The Deer and the Cauldron" to Yan Li for distribution, allowing Yan Li to launch another Chu-Lu double release and cement his title as the King of Distribution.

Compared to "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang," Yan Li now preferred to talk about "The White-Haired Witch," "The Legend of Xue Rengui," and "The Qing Dynasty Harem."

These three dramas were already in post-production; the earliest would air by year-end, the latest by next year—they were ready for distribution.

The most popular of the three were naturally "The White-Haired Witch" and "The Legend of Xue Rengui."

The former featured Fan Xiaopang and Ren Quan; the latter featured Yan Li and Li Bingbing.

"The Qing Dynasty Harem" was slightly weaker, but its cast—Zhang Zhilin, Wang Ou, Qin Lan, Hu Siyan—was far more luxurious than at the start of filming, making it a hot commodity in the industry.

Yan Li had already set KPIs for the distribution department.

The initial revenue target for the first broadcast rights, some regional channels, and DVD rights for the three dramas was 100–150 million RMB.

Once the baseline was met, sell as much as possible.

Yan Li set not only KPIs but also corresponding bonus tiers: 100 million meant standard profit-sharing; 120 million triggered a bonus increase; 140 million triggered another increase; exceeding the 150 million target meant a massive bonus surge.

Great rewards produce brave men!

With the broad channels he'd built, the elite distributors he'd trained, and generous material incentives, Yan Li believed the distribution department would perform well even without him.

Not to mention Yan Li would still personally oversee operations, offering guidance and support.

After all, the more they earned, the more he earned—he might not be deeply involved, but he'd never let go.

The above three dramas were only projects in which Yian participated in investment and production; there were also distribution deals.

Such as Tangren's "Young Yang Family Generals" and "The Immortal from Beyond," Zhou Yi's "The Eight Diagrams of Ghost and God," Hai Run's "Wolf Poison Flower," Ci Wen's "Seven Swords Descend from Tianshan," and Zhong Lu (producer of "Snow Goddess Dragon")'s "The Spring of Magnolia Blossoms"—nearly ten dramas in total.

Some were nearly finished, some still being sold, others in preparation for distribution.

Prices varied, and market reception differed.

But overall, there was no shortage of buyers—none of them were losing money.

Yan Li roughly calculated: if distribution went smoothly, 300–350 million RMB was entirely possible—perhaps even more.

After all, it was only August now; more projects might still come in, but given the heavy workload, he probably wouldn't take on many—or would wait until next year.

Add to that the three above dramas and "Detective Di Renjie 2," and Yian's distribution performance this year might surpass last year's.

Too bad "Feng Diao Battle" and "The Investiture of the Gods" were distributed last year—if they counted this year, Yan Li could hold a distribution symposium and lecture.

In fact, he could lecture now.

If last year there were still doubts about Yian being the top TV distributor,

this year Yian crushed all skepticism with its ferocious performance.

The title of 【King of Distribution】 continued to echo throughout the TV industry...

Beyond the explosive growth in distribution, production was also a key focus for Yian.

Besides "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang" and "The Legend of Yang Yuhuan," Yian partnered with Yongle on the second season of "The Investiture of the Gods."

Leveraging its distribution advantage, Yian also invested in "Golden Marriage," "The Legend of Shaolin Temple," and "The Magic Sword of Life and Death."

Especially the latter two—Yian held stakes of over 30% in each, granting significant influence, and planned to insert some actors.

Recently, Li Boss from Xiaoma Bunteng asked if Yan Li was interested in joining the investment in Gao Xixi's new drama "Sweet Sweet"—he could include him as a partner.

Oh, and there was the new drama promised to Deng Chao—"The Hard Love of a Diamond Old Man"—once he finished "Assembly," they could start preparing.

You don't realize how much you've got until you count it—and then you're shocked.

Yan Li's eyes were dizzy from all the book titles, and he marveled at why Yian's idle funds were always so scarce.

Though money flowed in continuously, it flowed out just as constantly.

Hence, film and TV company bosses may be famous, but their pockets are always empty.

The reason? All money is tied up in projects—funds are constantly recovered and immediately reinvested in new ones.

Successful companies accumulate more projects, unlock broader resources and capital, may have little cash on hand, but their voice grows louder.

Unsuccessful companies? One or two failed projects, cash flow breaks down, and their lives become unbearable.

If it triggers a chain reaction affecting half the company's projects, they won't die—but they'll lose skin.

Yan Li now increasingly understood why the Huayi brothers wanted to go public, and why Orange Sky and Ci Wen also wanted to go public.

Only by going public could a film and TV company's shares be converted into real money.

As long as they cash out at a higher stock price, whether the company profits or loses doesn't affect their earnings.

If Yian weren't entirely owned by Yan Li, he could freely access funds and have other sources of capital, not relying solely on Yian for income—he'd likely have already pushed for Yian's IPO.

But Yian isn't considering an IPO for now; at Yi'an Cinema, Yan Li is counting on the IPO to recoup his investment.

Yan Li visits the flagship cinema in Jinmen whenever he has time, roughly every ten to fifteen days.

He's under pressure over the estimated hundreds of millions in investment—he desperately wants Yi'an Cinema to grow strong and go public, with stock prices soaring, netting him billions…

…

In the morning, he attends a development meeting; at noon, he has lunch with a TV station executive; in between, he drops by Chaoyang to check on the stock team.

In the afternoon, he listens to reports from multiple drama crews and cinema managers, chats with Ning Hao and several screenwriters about script ideas, and meets two clients before leaving work; in the evening, he attends a business salon and a social dinner.

Yan Li works until 1 a. ., then returns to Fuli City, only to find Qin Lan awake.

Not only was she awake, but several members of the Teddy Sisterhood were there too, seemingly comforting Liu Yun.

"What's going on?"

Yan Li asked, puzzled—he hadn't told her he was coming today, and since he hadn't been home last night, Qin Lan hurried over to greet and explain.

The scene before them was simple: Liu Yun had discovered Nie Yuan was cheating.

More precisely, she hadn't found out herself—paparazzi had caught Nie Yuan and Ajiao sightseeing together, dining together, entering the same hotel.

Yes, that Ajiao—the member of the Hong Kong Twins duo. They'd been filming "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" together; likely, romance had blossomed on set.

If photos alone hadn't provided conclusive proof, Liu Yun had undeniable confirmation.

Somehow, she'd dug into Nie Yuan's phone and computer and uncovered plenty of evidence and details.

Not just Ajiao, but also Hu Ke, who'd previously been linked to Nie Yuan, and Xie Na, host of "Happy Camp"—all were confirmed.

Most ironically, Xie Na and Liu Yun knew each other and had gotten along well—neither expected the two had been involved behind her back.

"Liu Yun treated him so well—she hid her identity and dated him for three years to avoid hurting his career. And what did he do? Cheated on her, then went after her friend. What a piece of shit."

"Cough, cough."

Yan Li coughed awkwardly as Qin Lan ranted about Nie Yuan—he couldn't shake the feeling these words were aimed at him.

"So what are you planning to do?"

Yan Li could tell the Teddy Sisterhood wasn't planning to let this go—Huo Siyan and Li Xiaolu's eager expressions were barely contained.

Sure enough, as soon as Yan Li asked, Li Xiaolu spoke up: "Of course we expose his Chen Shimei behavior—let everyone condemn that two-timing bastard."

"Cough, cough—just say it plainly, don't pile on so many words."

Yan Li found it jarring and corrected Li's wording; only then did she realize—when it came to juggling multiple lovers, this man here was the original master.

Qin Lan couldn't resist pinching him quietly, then said: "How we handle this depends on Liu Yun's wishes."

Because of Yan Li, Qin Lan viewed the matter more leniently; by nature, she was soft-spoken and preferred a harmonious resolution.

Huo Siyan quickly added: "No matter what, we can't let him bully one of our Teddy Sisterhood sisters."

She supported Liu Yun making a scene—when the Teddy Sisterhood stormed in, they'd make a huge splash.

But since Qin Lan was involved and Yan Li was present, she dared not speak too loudly—she only insisted the Teddy Sisterhood must participate.

Even if they didn't publicly steal the spotlight, jointly intimidating Chen Shimei would still show sisterhood solidarity and mutual support.

Liu Yun's eyes were red, but she didn't cry; she spat out: "I'll make him ruined and disgraced."

She was fiery-tempered, loved fiercely and hated fiercely—she tolerated no deceit.

Nie Yuan had dated her for three years, even promised marriage, met her parents, and had their apartment renovated—yet this bastard had been fooling around with three women behind her back.

These were only the ones discovered—there might be more she hadn't found yet.

Liu Yun's trust in Nie Yuan had shattered; her past affection had been replaced by hatred, brimming with vengeance.

Yan Li frowned—Nie Yuan was also his friend; he couldn't just ignore this.

"Liu Yun, calm down. Maybe there's a misunderstanding. Maybe there's still room for reconciliation."

Let me arrange a meeting with Nie Yuan—he'll apologize to you and swear he'll never do it again. Three years of feelings—don't take it this far.

Liu Yun looked at Yan Li: "Too late. When I confronted him, I gave him a chance—he refused, broke up with me, and told me to leave."

"..."

Yan Li couldn't help glancing at Qin Lan, who nodded and whispered a few words.

Liu Yun had practically been thrown out of Nie Yuan's home—Qin Lan had picked her up in her car.

If not for that, Liu Yun wouldn't be in Fuli City, and Qin Lan wouldn't have called the Teddy Sisterhood over.

If she wanted reconciliation, she'd have discussed it privately with Qin Lan, minimizing the fallout. Calling the Teddy Sisterhood meant she'd already decided to tear everything open and make a huge scene.

Damn.

Yan Li was speechless—he had no idea how to judge Nie Yuan's actions.

But considering Nie Yuan and Liu Yun's personalities, this wasn't impossible.

Liu Yun was fiery-tempered, and with this situation, he could already picture her pointing at Nie Yuan's nose and screaming—probably hurling the harshest insults.

Nie Yuan was proud and aloof, with a bad temper, and now that his career was thriving, he was feeling cocky—he couldn't bear criticism or humiliation.

Two firecrackers, once ignited, only burned hotter—any extreme action wouldn't be surprising.

Yan Li even suspected that if he called Nie Yuan now, the latter would dismiss him outright and dare Liu Yun to leak everything.

People don't feel pain until they're taught!

After a brief pause, Yan Li still couldn't walk away—he spoke to Liu Yun.

"You're angry now, thinking only of revenge—but after you've ruined him, what's in it for you?"

Is three years of feelings worth it just to vent your anger?

"Let me mediate—get you some severance, make him pay up. You vent your anger and walk away with something real."

Yan Li proposed a more practical solution—the last thing he could do as a friend to both.

If they still couldn't agree, he'd done all he could—what Liu Yun did next, what fate befell Nie Yuan, was none of his business.

Yan Li's word carried weight.

And he wasn't just siding with Nie Yuan—he'd also fought for Liu Yun's interests.

Qin Lan, Huo Siyan, and the others joined in trying to persuade her; Liu Yun was somewhat convinced and nodded.

"I'll listen to you."

"Good. It's late—let's all go home. We'll talk again later."

Yan Li dismissed them. Qin Lan had wanted Liu Yun to stay overnight, but Liu Yun didn't want to disturb them—Huo Siyan volunteered to take her in.

They'd be working together on "The Deer and the Cauldron" soon—perfect chance to get closer.

Besides Huo, Liu, and Li, the other Teddy Sisterhood member present today was Zhao Ke.

Ma Yili and Xiong Naijin weren't in Beijing, so they didn't attend the meeting.

Huo and Liu left together; the gossipy Li Xiaolu wanted more gossip and decided to stay at Huo Siyan's place too—altogether four people, three were going, so Zhao Ke came along.

Fortunately, Huo Siyan's apartment, though small, had two bedrooms—enough room to squeeze everyone in.

At the convenience store still open in the compound, they bought alcohol and snacks to help Liu Yun drown her sorrows.

Alcohol was the best bond—under these circumstances, drinking together quickly forged closeness.

Liu Yun bitterly listed Nie Yuan's sins; others joined in cursing him—but as they ranted, Zhao Ke, the youngest, couldn't help asking a deadly question.

If juggling multiple lovers was the same, why was Nie Yuan condemned, but Yan Li was accepted without issue?

"How could they be the same!"

Huo Siyan spoke first: "What's Yan Zong's status and wealth? What's that Nie guy? He thinks he can juggle women too? Dream on."

Li Xiaolu nodded in agreement, counting off on her fingers for Zhao Ke.

Yan Li's fame and personal charm attracted and controlled women far more than Nie Yuan, a popular actor.

His superior resources, status, and wealth offered women something entirely different.

"Your sister Liu Yun and Nie Yuan—he spent how much? Do you know how much Yan Zong spent on Qin Lan? Forget everything else—those Fuli City apartments cost millions, and the title's only in Qin Lan's name."

"Liu Yun, the apartment you and Nie Yuan planned to marry in—I won't even ask how much it cost—was your name on it?"

Li Xiaolu turned to Liu Yun with a soul-stirring question; Liu Yun said nothing, lifted her beer, and drank deeply.

"And what kind of life does Qin Lan have with Yan Zong? What kind of drama do they play? You and that Nie guy dated underground for three years—how much did you ever benefit?"

Zhao Ke fell silent. Li Xiaolu and Huo Siyan's point was simple.

Yan Li is powerful—he's entitled to juggle women.

Nie Yuan isn't powerful—he still tries to juggle women? Who else should be condemned?

"And..."

Liu Yun, after downing a can of beer, eyes red, said: "Even if Yan Li is promiscuous, he's open about it—no lies, no deception. It's mutual consent."

This was one-sided—Yan Li had originally hidden things too, but later went public; the women, for various reasons, had all tacitly accepted it.

But Qin Lan wouldn't tell them this—so most people, except a few insiders, believed Yan Li had always been openly promiscuous.

In Liu Yun's view, if Nie Yuan had told her upfront he'd juggle multiple women, and she'd stupidly agreed, then now complaining would be her own fault.

But they'd been in a normal relationship, aiming for marriage—Nie Yuan's betrayal was why she hated him.

"To me, no man's good—even if he seems faithful now, who knows what he'll do later?"

"Better to find a man like Yan Zong—kind to people, generous, and good-looking."

Huo Siyan laid out her "heretical logic." Liu Yun wanted to argue, but didn't know how—she just kept drinking.

Li Xiaolu wasn't fully convinced: "Men like Yan Zong are too shrewd, too cold-blooded. Fine for fun, but for marriage, you need someone who can settle down."

Huo Siyan sneered: "Your Li Chen—is he the settling-down type?"

Li Xiaolu might grumble about Li Chen privately, but in public, she still defended him.

"Chen'er is handsome, honest, and does exactly what I say. He doesn't have much money, but he's not poor either."

If you don't have high demands, Li Chen is actually a decent boyfriend—otherwise Li Xiao wouldn't have been with him for so long.

"If you think it's good, then it's good."

Hu Siyan didn't think Li Chen was that honest; she'd caught him secretly watching her and other girls.

But all men are like that, and she had no real proof. Seeing the mood grow heavy, she shifted the topic to something every woman loved to discuss.

"Actually, Master Yan has one advantage most men simply can't match."

"What? What?"

Zhao Ke, low in status and young, dared not speak up or argue, so she automatically took on the role of the straight man.

Hu Siyan mumbled a few words and roughly gestured a length and shape, causing everyone present to gasp—even Liu Yun stopped drinking his sour wine.

"How do you know?"

"……Of course Lan-jie told me. Do you think I measured it myself?"

Hu Siyan spoke nervously, but luckily Liu Yun didn't press further.

It's normal for girlfriends to discuss such things—some talk even more wildly and in greater detail.

Liu Yun had never talked with Qin Lan, but given Hu Siyan's closeness to Qin Lan, discussing this wasn't unreasonable.

Li Xiaolu, who was closer to Hu Siyan, gave her a strange look; based on her understanding of her, she sensed something fishy in those words.

Still, she said nothing more, only continued asking with keen interest.

Previously, it was only known that Yan Li was handsome, fit, rich, and generous—no one expected this additional advantage. No wonder Lan-jie always looked radiant, yet often tired.

Hu Siyan wasn't an observer—she was the one who'd experienced it. Though afraid of revealing too much, she spoke vaguely, yet still drew soft gasps and follow-up questions from the women.

Li Xiaolu and Liu Yun even secretly compared Li Chen to Nie Yuan.

One sighed silently; the other clenched her teeth.

Especially Liu Yun, who showed not the slightest mercy toward Nie Yuan—she openly confessed.

"If he had half of Yan Li's ability, I'd have hesitated longer before breaking up with him."

Zhao Ke, young and inexperienced, found Hu Siyan's description exaggerated and voiced her doubts.

Hu Siyan laughed mischievously: "Don't believe me? Go try him yourself."

Private jokes among girlfriends, playful banter—this was normal. She'd done similar things in front of Qin Lan before, so Zhao Ke wasn't afraid; she simply said,

"I'd like to try, but Master Yan certainly wouldn't want me."

An offhand remark shattered Hu Siyan's composure; Liu Yun and Li Xiaolu fell silent.

The more they compared, the sadder they grew—worse still, good men belonged to others…

————

ps: Ten thousand words (4000/8000)

(End of chapter)