Chapter 285: Upgrade Persona: Entertainment Industry Business Queen, Living off Her Husband

Europe, Greece

Tong Dawei and Guan Yue, who arrived two days late, were met at the airport as soon as they landed.

Ding Feng, Yan Li's assistant, a local Greek translator and driver.

"Teacher Tong, Teacher Guan, Boss Yan and the others are out sightseeing. Let's head to the hotel first and regroup when they return."

"Sounds good."

Tong Dawei nodded readily—this wedding, Yan Li hadn't contributed a single cent as a gift, and Dong Xuan hadn't given money either, but she'd privately gifted Guan Yue a set of jewelry.

Though they gave no cash, Yan Li covered every single expense for their European luxury honeymoon—food, drink, entertainment, everything.

Even the itinerary was arranged for them; all they needed to do was pack their bags and show up.

After getting in the car, they arrived at the hotel, where Ding Feng gave a brief introduction.

It wasn't a five-star luxury hotel, but a boutique hotel rich in local culture, with all the necessary amenities.

When traveling abroad, the hotel's comfort, cleanliness, and safety come first; second is experiencing fresh culture—purely luxurious hotels aren't unavailable back home.

Tong Dawei and his wife had no objections since they weren't paying, but only upon entering the bedroom did they realize Ding Feng had been overly modest.

The room was spacious, exquisitely decorated, steeped in Greek style, and offered views of ancient architecture and street scenes.

They weren't novices—this was clearly high-end tourist accommodation, likely even pricier than those so-called five-star hotels.

"Rest up, gentlemen. If you're hungry, just call to arrange meals, or contact me directly—here's my card."

Ding Feng handed over his card; Tong Dawei glanced at it—it was clean, bearing only his name and phone number.

But Tong Dawei didn't underestimate this mild-mannered young man—he knew from experience that two people were most commonly seen beside Yan Li, and this was one of them.

A genuine personal assistant!

The role of assistant is peculiar—responsibilities, influence, and status have no fixed standard; they vary by person.

Some assistants are merely errand-runners, expendable tools with no real value.

Others are different—calling them a "second boss" is hyperbolic, but with sufficient trust, they can genuinely represent their principal to some degree, and that's powerful.

Tong Dawei himself had an assistant—his assistant, leveraging his fame, would sometimes be addressed as "Teacher" by staff, let alone Yan Li's assistant.

So Tong Dawei didn't dare act superior—he politely said, "Thank you, Assistant Ding, for your care."

"It's my duty. Boss Yan instructed me to provide flawless service."

Ding Feng smiled and nodded, unsurprised by Tong Dawei's tone—after all, even a seventh-rank official near a chancellor commands respect, and he was Yan Li's intimate aide.

Yet precisely because of this, Ding Feng's demeanor grew even more humble.

An assistant must know boundaries: don't undervalue yourself, because sometimes you represent Yan Li—but don't overvalue yourself either, because an assistant is still just an assistant.

Times have changed. When Yan Li first started out, Lin Jiachuan was forced to serve as assistant and complained the job was tedious and restrictive.

Now Yan Li's net worth exceeds a billion, his future boundless, and his inner circle has become a coveted position.

Yan Li employs thousands; there are plenty with elite educations or glittering resumes who'd gladly replace Ding Feng.

Yet Ding Feng has remained by Yan Li's side—not only because Yan Li is sentimental, but also because he hasn't coasted.

A personal assistant handles many tasks; loyalty is vital, but so are personality and ability.

"Rest up, gentlemen. Call if you need anything."

Ding Feng took his leave. Tong Dawei unpacked his luggage while Guan Yue, rubbing her belly excitedly, began exploring the room.

As a top celebrity, Tong Dawei had participated in some overseas events, but this was Guan Yue's first time abroad—everything felt new.

"Oh, it's Lao Dong's call."

Guan Yue, who had already activated international roaming, answered the phone and chatted animatedly with Dong Xuan.

"We just checked in. Assistant Ding arranged everything perfectly. You guys enjoy yourselves—don't worry about us. See you tonight."

After a few minutes, she hung up and said, "Yan Li and Lao Dong went to some old town—coming back this evening."

They'd already agreed: Yan Li and Dong Xuan rarely got time to travel abroad, so they'd arranged everything in advance and wouldn't come to pick them up—just meet up tonight and tour together tomorrow.

"Alright, you rest first. I'll call home to let them know we're safe."

Tong Dawei told Guan Yue to rest—even though the trip had been first-class flights and private transfers, she was pregnant and needed to take it easy.

Guan Yue was tired, but her spirits were high. After lying down briefly, she dragged Tong Dawei around to tour the hotel again.

As mentioned earlier, this hotel was a cultural landmark in itself—worth seeing.

After touring, they sampled the hotel's signature cuisine. Halfway through the meal, Yan Li and Dong Xuan returned.

He wore a light summer casual outfit—simple, but tall and muscular, his thin, fitted shirt subtly revealing his physique, exuding strong presence, and wearing stylish sunglasses that made him look effortlessly cool.

Tong Dawei clearly noticed several foreign women glancing at him—some subtly, others openly, even lustfully.

Dong Xuan wore a white long dress adorned with golden patterns and ornaments, resembling a goddess from the hotel's murals or statues—likely bought locally.

Tall and fair-skinned, she looked elegant yet fashionable, strikingly beautiful.

"Beautiful—I want one too."

That was Guan Yue's first words. Dong Xuan smiled: "Don't worry, I bought you a set. The shop still has more—we'll go back together."

Yan Li, who had just smiled and greeted Tong Dawei, immediately dropped his smile at this.

He was baffled—these women normally pleaded with him, acting frail and helpless, yet when it came to shopping, they suddenly had boundless energy.

Luckily only one came along—if there were more, he'd be the one begging.

The two women chattered excitedly, leaving Yan Li and Tong Dawei to exchange a weary glance and sigh together.

But then Yan Li perked up: "I found a hot air balloon and speedboat club. Dong Xuan's scared—come with me and try it."

Tong Dawei was tempted—he'd never tried either, and they sounded fun—but he hesitated.

"Is it safe?"

Yan Li rolled his eyes: "Relax. I'm more afraid of dying than you are."

Tong Dawei instantly relaxed—Yan Li was far richer and younger; he'd never recklessly risk his life.

The two began enthusiastically discussing the specifics—this was precisely why Yan Li invited Tong Dawei and his wife along.

Outside certain activities, men and women rarely enjoy the same things.

Since they rarely got to travel abroad, Yan Li wanted to relax, but didn't want Dong Xuan to compromise—so he found her a companion.

That way, Dong Xuan had someone to keep her company, and he could enjoy his own interests during their private moments.

So Tong Dawei was really benefiting from Guan Yue's presence—only she could pull Dong Xuan away from Yan Li during the trip.

Yan Li didn't lack companions; without Tong Dawei, he still had Ding Feng and the other bodyguards who came along.

After dinner, there was another activity—a nice hot spring. Soaking felt wonderful, and nearby was a famous sunrise and sunset viewpoint, said to be stunning and perfect for photos.

They decided to soak first; the hot spring had lodging, so if they woke up, they'd watch the sunrise—if not, they'd skip it.

Yan Li's travel philosophy was simple: comfort and freedom. Enjoy suitable sights, but don't force it—no need to exhaust yourself.

Nothing is perfect; regret is part of memory too.

Yan Li felt Greece's hot springs were slightly different from Beijing's, but not by much.

The four split into two pools, separated by bamboo walls and wooden curtains; Ding Feng and the others went to another pool.

They lounged comfortably in the warm water. Dong Xuan changed into a bathrobe and sat beside him.

"By the way—can pregnant women soak in hot springs?"

Yan Li suddenly remembered. Dong Xuan nodded: "I called ahead. A short soak is fine—just don't stay too long."

"Good."

Yan Li relaxed. He'd brought them here—he had to be careful about safety. Tong Dawei didn't matter, but Guan Yue was pregnant—must be cautious.

Soaking in the spring, sipping red wine, Yan Li gazed at Dong Xuan through the mist, growing more fond by the moment.

She was fair, pure yet alluring, with a great figure—her allure in water surpassed her usual charm.

He remembered dating Dong Xuan in college—he especially loved swimming with her, satisfying his eyes and hands, and after bathing, satisfying other cravings too.

Sensing Yan Li's rising desire, Dong Xuan felt quietly proud.

Everyone talks about the seven-year itch—they were nearing that point, yet she still held immense appeal for him, proving her daily efforts at upkeep and exercise weren't wasted.

Of course, it also helped that this beast had a voracious appetite.

Dong Xuan both loved and resented this trait—loved that it kept their marriage harmonious, hated that he was never satisfied and kept chasing other women.

As she muttered this, she felt his hands moving—she couldn't help pinching him.

"Guan's right next door."

"They can't see."

True, but he couldn't ignore Tong Dawei—so though he still cuddled Dong Xuan, he never went further.

The more they lingered, the more heated it became—the hot spring water couldn't cool him down. Just as they prepared to return to their room, Yan Li suddenly tensed, hushing Dong Xuan.

He crept quietly to the bamboo wall, grinning mischievously: "These two really are on their honeymoon."

Dong Xuan spat playfully, then worried: "Will it be okay?"

"They're not stupid—they've passed three months. Should be fine."

Yan Li figured they'd been holding back for a while, and tonight's atmosphere was bound to spark something—so they lost all sense of timing.

Whether appropriate or not, they couldn't interrupt now—Yan Li pulled Dong Xuan away.

"Forget them. Let's focus on our own business."

Avoiding the hot spring was partly out of care for Dong Xuan, partly to spare Tong Dawei's pride…

…

Yan Li and the others spent over a week in Greece, visiting several famous sights and trying interesting activities.

Tong Dawei and his wife experienced the lifestyle of the ultra-rich.

Every hotel was either boutique or luxury, transport was always private, including renting a private yacht, helicopter tours over islands and cities.

Meals focused on local specialties, but there were also a few Michelin restaurants, luxury estates, and top-tier private chef dinners.

In Yan Li's words, you must try the street snacks and regional flavors, but you should also experience good restaurants and chefs.

Visiting attractions or attending events was all handled through VIP service, and the experience was even better than they'd imagined.

Tong Dawei had inquired—some of these services and arrangements couldn't be achieved simply by throwing money at them.

If it were him, even with the same amount of money, they might not even bother.

Yan Li's business was almost entirely domestic; Tong Dawei was curious how Yan Li managed it.

"Actually, I didn't deliberately do anything. When your bank balance reaches a certain level, when you've purchased specific services or established related partnerships, or when your luxury spending hits a certain threshold, you automatically qualify."

"If that's still not enough, find a few friends—I don't have business overseas, but they might."

Many things sound mysterious and impressive, but in reality, they're just that.

Most people can't access them—nothing more than the word "barrier."

Once your status and social circle reach that level, once you cross that barrier, it naturally stops being novel.

And crossing the barrier isn't limited to just this one way—there are countless other methods, but Yan Li hasn't studied them in detail; he doesn't understand them and isn't interested.

He has the simplest, most effective path—why bother with those?

Moreover, Yan Li doesn't care much for these so-called barriers—they're just artificial walls designed to create hierarchies, satisfying the vanity of high-end clients above, and attracting the ambition of middle-class aspirants below.

In plain terms, it's still cutting the grass.

But Yan Li sees it clearly—and yet he can't escape being cut himself.

Because while Yan Li can ignore the barriers, many others care deeply; he often needs to leverage that care, and he also needs these premium services to enjoy.

Yan Li's final two days were scheduled in England; he planned to watch a match. Originally, Tong Dawei and his wife still had time, and Yan Li had said they could keep traveling.

But Tong Dawei and his wife felt truly awkward.

They weren't fools; though they didn't know exactly how much Yan Li had spent, everything reeked of money.

Joining him on the trip for the wedding was one thing, but after he returned home, to keep relying on him to pay—well, that was hard to justify.

Besides, Guan Yue was pregnant; traveling together was inconvenient. And now that they were married, they needed to visit home. Tong Dawei had little honeymoon leave—better to return home, finish the tasks, then take Guan Yue out separately.

Yan Li was half a football fan—he'd watch the Premier League and Champions League when he had time. Tong Dawei was a pure fake fan—he only watched the World Cup.

But he could actually play football—he had a scene in The Battle of Chibi where he played cuju, trained specifically for it. His technique wasn't great, but he could juggle the ball far better than Yan Li.

With limited time, they didn't catch Yan Li's favorite team, Manchester United; they watched an Arsenal match in London.

Yan Li hadn't watched many live matches before; after the game ended, he was still exhilarated and boldly declared to Tong Dawei.

"When I've got money and free time, I'll buy a club. Fly to England once a month to watch games—total bliss."

Tong Dawei smirked, thinking Yan Li was getting carried away: "Dong Xuan, can you control your husband's bragging?"

"I believe him."

Dong Xuan stood firmly by Yan Li's side. Though Yan Li sometimes made big claims, anything he truly intended to do, he always followed through.

She'd heard him say that when filming on set, he'd seen a horse he liked—he was nobody back then, yet he dared tell the owner he'd come back to buy it. He was mocked then, but two years later, the horse was his.