Chapter 310: I Am Yan Li, Speaking for Myself

That evening, the Teddy Sisters gathered on Weibo to post a group photo of their meetup.

This is also a small custom within the Teddy Sisters group.

For some gatherings, especially large ones with relatively complete attendance, if a group photo is taken, everyone usually agrees to post it together on social media—everyone must post it—as both a declaration of solidarity and a way to express the Teddy Sisters' unity and camaraderie.

Of course, there are downsides to playing it this way.

For instance, too many meetups invite criticism from fans who say they're neglecting their careers; others, who attend infrequently due to prior commitments, face suspicion or media-driven narratives dragging them into controversy.

But overall, under the currently harmonious atmosphere of the Teddy Sisters, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

Especially for those with lesser fame like Xiong Naijin and Zhao Ke, the Teddy Sisters serve as their most important platform for exposure, so they're eager to post photos and interact.

Compared to before, this Teddy Sisters gathering added one more person: Yang Mi.

She not only posted the group photo and @'ed Qin Lan in public interaction, but also chatted enthusiastically with Liu Yun, Ma Yi, Gan Wei, and others.

To fans and bystanders, this was just entertainment—some might be surprised Yang Mi had joined, but it wasn't unexpected.

After all, others had attended Teddy Sisters gatherings before; everyone has a few industry friends, and it's perfectly normal to tag along when the chance arises.

But while this meant little to outsiders, it shocked those who understood the relationship between Qin Lan and Dong Xuan, and between Yang Mi and Dong Xuan.

Has someone stolen her away?!

Or has Yang Mi transformed into Yan Li, openly stepping on two boats?

The Weibo posts came from Qin Lan and her circle, but Dong Xuan was the one answering calls nonstop—she fielded endless inquiries and probes, leaving her frazzled and seething inside, cursing Qin Lan for dragging her into this mess.

Regarding Yang Mi, she and Qin Lan had a certain understanding, but they never agreed to make it so public.

Upon closer thought, Qin Lan must have done this deliberately!

After all, Yang Mi's closeness to Dong Xuan was obvious; although Qin Lan agreed to ally with Dong to resist Fan, she feared Dong might pull a "White Robe Crossing the River"—team up with Yang Mi to betray her.

Making it public, and even appearing to pull Yang Mi into the Teddy Sisters, is a blatant message to everyone: Qin Lan is Yang Mi's backer, and Yang Mi's future success owes much to her.

In the future, if Yang Mi ever wants to betray her, she'll have to weigh whether she wants to become the poster child for ingratitude.

"She's getting smarter."

Dong Xuan muttered, such a transparent strategy felt beyond Qin Lan's capacity—she suspected someone was secretly advising her.

The reason she thought this was because Yan Li had once taught her how to handle Yang Mi.

That girl isn't innocent—she's ambitious and cunning, a sharp blade to wield, but one that could easily cut you.

So Yan Li advised her on how to treat Yang Mi: keep her obedient, make her respect and adore her, and never let her entertain hidden schemes.

If he could advise her, he might very well have advised Qin Lan too!

That bunch of petty hangers-on in the Teddy Sisters—Qin Lan managed them with surprising order, never letting anything major go wrong, and she was quite useful in many matters.

This was impossible for Qin Lan to achieve alone!

After much deliberation, Dong Xuan gave up and called Yan Li directly.

"I want to publicly declare Yang Mi is mine—how can I do it naturally, without seeming forced?"

Yan Li: "..."

You two play palace intrigue every day without using your brains, coming to me for advice—no wonder Fan Xiaopang looks down on you both.

Yang Mi's backer is Qin Dong; Qin Dong's backer is Yan Li, who doesn't want Fan Xiaopang to monopolize everything.

"You're her teacher—isn't it normal to attend class reunions or student gatherings?"

Though he inwardly scoffed, Yan Li still gave advice—Dong Xuan's eyes lit up: the teacher-student relationship was far stronger than any fake sisterhood.

After hanging up, Yan Li tapped the table, pausing in thought.

Making Qin Dong and Yang Mi's relationship public benefits her, but in many eyes, it also makes her an enemy.

But taking sides is like that—it's hard to please both sides. Yang Mi stepping on two boats is already a stroke of luck; without Fan Xiaopang—or even two years ago, when Qin Dong's relationship with her was terrible—she could've been crushed by them both.

Now Yang Mi holds every advantage, and the company offers her resources and protection—if she still can't make it, she's useless.

Useless people aren't worth Yan Li's attention!

…

In early March, Weibo's user base officially surpassed 8 million; it was expected to hit 10 million by mid- or late March, and if things went smoothly, even faster.

By then, the Snow Incident had passed, and though the X-photo scandal still had lingering momentum, its peak had faded.

So after Weibo surpassed 10 million users, it began to be tied directly to Yan Li's personal brand for promotion and momentum-building.

After this promotional wave, Weibo would further expand its influence, marking the end of its founding phase, gaining the strength and confidence to compete with major blogs, and beginning its bid for the top spot in social media.

To stabilize Weibo's traffic, Yan Li partnered it with the early casting process for "The New Three Kingdoms."

As one of the Four Great Classical Novels, public interest in it needed no explanation; previously, "The New Dream of the Red Chamber" held a casting reality show that became one of the year's hottest talent competitions.

"The New Three Kingdoms" couldn't do a public casting—after all, "Dream of the Red Chamber" featured young boys and girls suited for talent shows, while "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" centered on middle-aged men, mostly requiring specialized and mature actors, impossible to force-fit into a talent-show mold.

But even without public casting, there was still massive traffic: just the question of who would play Zhuge Liang could spark thousands of comments.

Spreading rumors about authenticity, conducting related interviews, releasing audition clips and costume photos—if the buzz died down, it would be blamed on the production team's poor promotion and Weibo's weak operations.

"The New Three Kingdoms" and Weibo understood this well: from the start, they included all the biggest stars.

Fan Xiaopang as Diaochan, Zhou Young Master as Xiao Qiao, Little Swallow as Gan Fu Ren, Huang Xiaoming as Zhuge Liang, Liu Huohua as Liu Bei, Chen Kun as Zhou Yu, Tong Dawei as Sun Quan, and so on.

Whether true or false, the buzz was roaring—supporters, haters, rebuttals, counter-rebuttals—some topics briefly rivaled the former Weibo goddesses.

After all, some female stars might be unfamiliar, but how many people had never heard of or seen "Three Kingdoms," or didn't know Liu, Guan, and Zhang?

Whether Fan Xiaopang or Liu Tianxian was prettier could be settled by personal taste; but who was stronger, Guan Yu or Zhao Yun? That demanded a definitive ranking.

Amid the chaos, "The New Three Kingdoms" officially announced its first major role.

Nie Yuan would play Zhao Yun, Zhao Zilong!

This role had relatively low internal controversy, chosen precisely to start strong.

Nie Yuan naturally fit the handsome, heroic archetype—he'd previously played Luo Cheng to high praise, and while his Zhao Yun might not be perfect, he was reasonably fitting.

Indeed, though some still nitpicked, most feedback was positive.

But subsequent casting choices didn't go as smoothly as Nie Yuan's—beyond external controversy, even internal debates raged.

The several names announced were all well-known roles, but not the core of the entire drama.

Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao—Dong Xuan, Tong Yaya

Using them was a double win: one was her own person, the other looked just like her, naturally forming a sisterly duo.

Sima Yi—Zhang Songwen

Originally, he was a top candidate for Liu Bei, but internal disputes persisted; when rumors were leaked for testing, they triggered massive backlash.

So Zhang Songwen lost the Liu Bei role and took on Sima Yi, a character with substantial later-screen time.

This role was outwardly loyal but inwardly treacherous; Zhang Songwen had previously played Yang Guozhong in "The Legend of Yang Yuhuan," another character who appeared virtuous but harbored hidden schemes.

Zhou Yiwei—Cao Pi

Originally considered for Sun Quan, Zhou Yiwei read the script and found Cao Pi—the cunning crown prince overshadowed by his father and threatened by his younger brother—far more compelling. Coupled with extensive scenes opposite his old classmate and close friend Zhang Songwen, he actively requested the role of Cao Pi.

This also led Lin Jiachuan to play Cao Zhen, Cao Pi's loyal ally, forming a trio building the state of Wei.

Xun Yu—Guo Dongwen

Jia Xu—Wang Jingsong

Cheng Yu—Zhang Zhijian

All three were poached from the "Ming Dynasty 1566" crew.

Guo Dongwen's portrayal of Zhang Juzheng exuded refined gentlemanly grace, perfect for the virtuous Xun Yu.

Wang Jingsong played Yang Jinshui, Zhang Zhijian played Yan Shifan—both villains—so they were cast as Jia Xu and Cheng Yu, the two poisonously clever strategists.

Later, perhaps influenced by this, the production team thought the "Ming Dynasty 1566" actors had high quality and recruited even more.

Figures like Zheng Bichang, Zhao Zhengji, Gao Gong, Prince Yu, Huang Jin—not Han-Wei nobles, but regional lords and renowned scholars—even two Embroidered Uniform Guards: Qi Dazhu and Jin Song as Dian Wei, Zhu Qi and Yang Hanbin as Xiahou Dun.

Thank heaven Jiajing and Hai Rui weren't recruited—otherwise, the Ming Dynasty would've been reborn in the Eastern Han.

Besides "Ming Dynasty 1566," "The New Three Kingdoms" crew also had their eyes on the CCTV version of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms."

It could be called promotion, or understood as homage!

Plans included inviting the original Liu Bei to play Liu Biao, the original Guan Yu and Zhang Fei to portray elderly generals connected to them, the original Cao Cao to play a loyal Han minister, the original Lu Bu to play Ding Yuan, the original Zhuge Liang to make a cameo as Zhuge Liang's father-in-law, the original Sun Shangxiang to play Wu Guotai, and so on.

Of course, this was only a concept—whether they could secure even a few of them remained uncertain, and whether such references would break immersion was still under consideration.

Additionally, interacting with the CCTV version had another advantage.

The new and old versions would inevitably be compared.

For the sake of the entire project, "The New Three Kingdoms" could never belittle or undermine itself; if it attacked the old version, it would lack credibility and risk backlash; if left unaddressed, others might manipulate the narrative.

Better to start by lowering its posture—actively engage with the CCTV version, show respect and homage to the original.

In plain terms: seize the moral high ground!

If it's well-made, it's "The New Three Kingdoms" surpassing the original with the original's support.

If it's flawed, it's merely still lacking—time to learn more from the masters.

Either way, the legacy flows smoothly, the two versions are close and harmonious—none of you toads are allowed to sow discord.

These supporting roles drew significant attention, sustaining the buzz, though controversy remained high.

Yan Li was already used to this—since "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng," every adapted drama's casting inevitably fell short of perfection, impossible to satisfy everyone.

If before he merely didn't care, now he actually hoped for more controversy—it kept Weibo active.

No wonder the industry chain is so good—well-planned, even being criticized turns into profit.

Aside from a few core creators and key supporting roles, Yan Li personally participated in, most casting decisions were left to "The New Three Kingdoms" staff.

He only required final approval: if he felt a role was wrong, he'd send it back for recasting.

Such cases were rare, since most actors were seasoned professionals, or unfamiliar to Yan Li, and their appearances were acceptable—he wouldn't burden his team with unnecessary work.

Besides "The New Three Kingdoms" casting, Yan Li also paid close attention to the casting for the film "The Message."

Last year, "Painted Skin" was Yi'an's first film project; this year it's "The Message," with an investment of 60 to 80 million, publicly stated as 100 million.

"The Message" and "Three Kingdoms" were also the two projects fully controlled and most heavily invested in by Yi'an in 2008.

Projects like "The Road to Revolution" and "October Siege," though large-scale, either had lower costs or were not under Yi'an's primary control.

Even if Yan Li participated in them, his level of attention was lesser—he did not personally serve as executive producer, as he had with the two prior projects.

Nowadays, Yan Li rarely appears as producer, but he sometimes lists himself as producer or executive producer on certain projects.

Such projects, to some extent, represent Yan Li's emphasis and can even be considered under his direct supervision—"Painted Skin" was exactly like this.

The filming of "The Message" began around the same time as "Three Kingdoms," roughly in August.

Although it's still early, the actors have nearly all been selected already!

The two female leads are Shuang Bing; the squad leader, outwardly a traitor but actually an undercover agent, is Sun Honglei; Qiao Zhenyu plays the actor Bai Xiaonian; and Liang Guanhua portrays Jin Shenghuo, the man under interrogation.

Other minor supporting roles are less important: Yi'an assigns some, the director picks a few, and the rest are filled if needed.

The two roles still undetermined are the two antagonists: the Japanese officer Wu Tian and the Special Branch director Wang Zhiwen.

Originally, Yan Li was considered to play one of them, but he refused to portray Japanese or traitor roles, and frequent co-starring with Shuang Bing might grow tiresome to audiences; better to save the opportunity for the likely upcoming "Painted Skin 2."

Also, "The Message" is a main-theme film, a tribute piece; the Shuang Bing rivalry angle is already borderline sensitive, and a love triangle promotional strategy simply doesn't suit this project.

Since Yan Li won't act, and the other key creators are all major stars, they need to find actors of sufficient stature for these two roles.

Originally, Deng Chao was considered for the Japanese officer, but he is now fully committed to "The Road to Revolution"; compared to Sun Honglei, his pressure is greater, he dares not divert attention, and he still owes previous acting commitments.

Later, they considered Tong Dawei, but after a screen test, director Gao Qunshu found his appearance and demeanor too soft and weak, so they ultimately chose Liu Huohua.

As for the other role, Special Branch director, it will be played by Wang Zhiwen.

Looking at this, "The Message" has a formidable cast: Shuang Bing, Liu Huohua, Sun Honglei, Wang Zhiwen, Qiao Zhenyu, Liang Guanhua, plus several guest stars—undoubtedly a blockbuster-level ensemble.

And like "Painted Skin," it remains an entirely mainland Chinese cast.

This is truly bold: after "Assembly," Feng Xiaogang's new film is rumored to invite Shu Dazui, yet Yan Li's two over-100-million-investment films both use entirely mainland actors.

It's only because Shuang Bing is still carrying it; otherwise, even Yan Li would struggle to secure funding.

As for "October Siege," it's still in the funding stage; casting hasn't officially begun, and that will need further negotiation later.

Frankly, Yan Li no longer trusts Chen Kexin; he's probed her background and formed a poor impression.

He will definitely send someone to oversee "October Siege"—taking a little extra money is fine; every production crew makes side income—but if she tries to treat him as a fool, Yan Li will make her understand who the real boss is.