Chapter 313

Jingcheng, Tuanjie Lake

Yan Li woke up on time, shoved Wang Ou off his chest, pulled his leg free from under Bai Bing, and got up to wash up.

Because of Bai Bing, Yan Li had been visiting Tuanjie Lake noticeably more often these days.

The three of them had always been an open secret; Bai Bing was even living in Wang Ou's home by now, long prepared for certain things, and after a couple of subtle setups, Wang Ou played along, and the rest unfolded naturally.

Although Bai Bing and Wang Ou had only just begun to coordinate and hadn't yet developed any combined techniques, they made up for it with obedience—their personalities and demeanors differed, adding their own unique flavor.

Previously unfamiliar, after communication and mutual understanding, Yan Li had formed a preliminary grasp of Bai Bing's character.

He was introverted, mostly quiet in private; perhaps non-academic in background, with decent family conditions, faintly carrying a touch of petty superiority.

Earlier, worn down by reality and struggling in his circumstances, he hadn't had the luxury to care.

Now, with Yan Li protecting him, his difficulties resolved and his mindset relaxed, his suppressed personality began to show.

Bai Bing's superiority wasn't the kind that ignored material wealth or fame—otherwise he wouldn't have been dragged into this by Wang Ou.

It was a pseudo-superiority bound by moral rigidity: outwardly reserved and cold, inwardly full of drama.

Put plainly, he wanted it all, and his heart wasn't open.

The women around Yan Li, like Wang Ou and Huo Siyan, openly acknowledged they were clinging to men, even took pride in it—there were few like them.

Most weren't as bold; they all carried some inner reservations—Yang Rong and Bai Bing were among those most conflicted.

Among them, Yang Rong and Bai Bing were quite different.

Yang Rong was a pragmatist; she had plans for her future, believed lovers weren't a lasting solution, yet couldn't bear to let go of Yan Li, so she was torn, inconsistent, but fundamentally didn't strongly resist staying with Yan Li.

Bai Bing, however, was trapped by personal moral dilemmas, unable to accept how he could be so "degenerate."

Like a recent college graduate who'd done something dirty, gained benefits, feeling both delighted and internally condemned.

Wanted to keep going, but held back; didn't want to stop, yet couldn't bear to let go—neither willing to fully surrender nor firm enough to hold his ground, finally found a "helpless" excuse to give up, yet still carried a thorn in his heart.

Yan Li had seen enough human nature, and with the system's help, could read Bai Bing's psychology.

He could understand it, even found it pleasing—he'd seen too many obedient ones; this pseudo-superiority had its own charm.

After washing up, Yan Li changed clothes, put on a mask, and went downstairs to exercise.

Over the past two years, Jingcheng's air quality had worsened; even early morning air was mediocre. Yan Li jogged two laps to warm up, then found a quiet spot to practice boxing and cultivation.

The richer he became, the more he valued his body; he couldn't claim to train every single day of the year, but he ensured at least 300 days of exercise annually.

Hmm, special exercises didn't count.

After finishing his routine, Wu Maowen had already arrived; Yan Li took breakfast from him and walked upstairs.

For women, physical condition mattered, and financial entanglement was crucial, but proper care and attention were also indispensable.

Yet Yan Li was too busy to expect him to revolve around one woman and fulfill all her daily needs.

So, apart from a few exceptions, most were handled with words or money—buying breakfast now counted as a gesture.

Even this breakfast was often bought by his driver or assistant; he only carried it upstairs.

Don't think it's just buying breakfast—you have to consider who's buying it.

If a sycophant buys it, he's ignored; if a boyfriend buys it, it's expected; if Yan Li, the big boss, buys it, he's the perfect tender, considerate man.

Not exaggerating—he'd even heard Qin Lan, Dong Xuan, Wang Ou, and others bragging to friends; such ordinary acts for other men somehow drew admiration and praise from their friends.

So strive for success—once you succeed, even your farts smell sweet…

…

Upstairs, inside the door, Wang Ou and Bai Bing were already awake.

Yan Li's biological clock was relatively stable; barring special circumstances, his wake-up and exercise times were always nearly identical.

Wang Ou, having been with him longer, had developed the habit of setting her own alarm, waking up before Yan Li finished exercising to join him for breakfast.

If Yan Li didn't bring breakfast, she'd quickly make some—anything to keep him from going to work hungry.

Don't think Wang Ou only knows how to pimp—Yan Li only needs to say a word, and plenty of people will line up to introduce him.

Wang Ou's attentiveness and loyalty were her foundation; pimping was merely an extension built on that base—without them, Yan Li wouldn't even listen to her.

Bai Bing didn't have this habit, but since Wang Ou was up, he couldn't stay in bed—he got up too.

I have to say, Bai Bing has indeed learned a few things these days from following Wang Ou.

He'd previously thought Wang Ou was just lucky—she'd met Yan Li early and was bold enough to drag others down, which was why she became his confidant.

Now, seeing Wang Ou's daily actions and understanding her feelings toward Yan Li, Bai Bing felt that if he were Yan Li, he'd value Wang Ou too.

In fact, Bai Bing privately suspected Yan Li had brainwashed Wang Ou.

Because he felt Wang Ou was too subservient—though she had her own small schemes, she genuinely tried to please Yan Li, even seemed to enjoy it.

If Yang Rong knew his thoughts, she'd wholeheartedly agree.

Wang Ou, due to her original family background, had a pathological attachment to Yan Li.

Yet Yang Rong and Wang Ou first met during the time Wang Ou was ostracized in "The Great Qing Imperial Harem," having known each other since humble beginnings, sharing hardship and trust, their bond deep and firm.

But when Wang Ou met Bai Bing, she took on the elder-sister role, somewhat aloof.

Even when sharing private confidences, many things were brushed over—so Bai Bing remained unaware of the truth, often suspecting Yan Li was PUA-ing Wang Ou, or that Wang Ou was a lovesick fool who'd give up everything for love.

Wang Ou had no idea how "great" she seemed in the eyes of her new little sister.

While Yan Li was showering, she put his workout clothes in the washing machine, washed her hands, and told Bai Bing to wash the dishes and chopsticks; if anything had cooled, she quickly reheated it.

When Yan Li came out, the three ate together; Yan Li glanced at his phone, then looked at Bai Bing.

"Are you free today?"

"Yes."

Bai Bing, nudged by Wang Ou, quickly replied.

He actually had work today—Wang Ou had arranged a photoshoot for a print ad, and they'd planned to go to a spa in the afternoon.

But Wang Ou had also told him: whenever Yan Li asks, unless it's an absolutely critical matter you simply can't get out of, everything else must be pushed back in favor of Yan Li.

"Hmm, let your O-jie take you to buy a new outfit—the premiere of 'The Kung Fu King' is happening, I'll take you both to join the buzz."

Yan Li ignored the two's small antics and gave a direct order.

After finishing the meal, Yan Li left first, while Wang Ou pulled Bai Bing off to shop.

Because time was tight, Wang Ou didn't wander; she directly took Bai Bing to a luxury brand, called a stylist over the phone, and had them help pick out clothes and coordinate the look—extremely efficient.

"Miss Bai's skin is fair, her features gentle and refined—she suits darker tones."

The stylist picked out a deep green gown for Bai Bing, looking pure and elegant; Wang Ou wore a light blue shirt paired with a knee-length skirt, neat and spirited.

They added some accessories; Bai Bing, eager to show off, paid before Wang Ou could, then stared at the bill in shock.

Just those two outfits and trinkets cost nearly a hundred thousand!

And that didn't include the stylist's fee—Wang Ou had a partnership with him, to be settled later.

Wang Ou saw her thoughts and smiled, explaining: "Yan Zong wouldn't call you out of nowhere—he must have another purpose. When we go out with him, we don't need to steal the spotlight, but we absolutely can't lose face."

"As for money, it's nothing—spend it all, then ask Yan Zong for more. This is proper spending, not frivolous. He won't blame you."

Bai Bing had earned little before and had only just felt how hard money was to earn; her mindset hadn't fully shifted yet, so Wang Ou began teaching her step by step.

Being frugal is a good habit, but some money can be saved, and some truly cannot.

And behind closed doors, Wang Ou shared some heartfelt words with her sister-friend Bai Bing.

Bai Bing has followed Yan Li this long; while she's still in favor, there's no need to be so cautious—grab as many benefits as you can; even if things end later, you'll have built up some savings.

Wang Ou didn't think she was betraying her own interests.

Yan Li doesn't care about hundreds of thousands or tens of thousands—as long as you're obedient and sensible, taking extra advantage is fine.

On that basis, giving a little extra to her sister-friend isn't wrong—it's better than letting those foxes benefit.

After buying clothes and getting styled, time was nearly up; Yan Li had warned them ahead of time: no need to meet him, go straight to the venue.

When they arrived, the premiere scene was huge.

After all, 'The Kung Fu King' was the first collaboration between two mega-stars, backed and distributed by Huayi, drawing countless VIPs and celebrities—figures from Beijing's circle and Hong Kong's circle both showed up.

When Wang Ou and Bai Bing arrived, Yan Li hadn't come yet, so they waited in the car.

After a while, Yan Li arrived; the two flanked him on either side and walked the red carpet right behind him.

Walking the red carpet was nothing new for Yan Li or Wang Ou.

Bai Bing had walked it before too—minor artists tagging along was common; she was under Ying Huang, and the company occasionally sent people to support their own projects.

For example, 'The Kung Fu King' had some Huayi artists with no connections present—ostensibly showing full support, really just filling seats and boosting exposure.

For the production team, more people meant a better-looking scene; for the artists, they could later issue a press release and ride the hype.

Besides, now there are blogs and Weibo—getting a photo with a big name could bring more traffic.

But in the past, Bai Bing had little fame; walking the red carpet made her an unnoticed nobody.

Today was different: though Yan Li's acting career was only decent, his fame and status at this event were top-tier.

Especially after his recent ad for 'I Speak for Myself,' Yan Li had genuinely exploded in popularity, with strong lasting momentum.

Even during the red carpet walk, audience members were yelling, begging to throw salt at him.

Walking the red carpet with him, Bai Bing's attention level was incomparable to walking alone—even the interview zone reporters specifically asked questions about her.

Wang Ou was known to everyone; this new beauty beside Yan Li was unfamiliar, making her a good news story too.

"This is Bai Bing—she played Xue Baochai in 'The New Dream of the Red Chamber,' is one of the female leads in our 'Painted Skin' TV series, and also appeared in 'The New Three Kingdoms.'"

Wang Ou was under Yi'an; it made sense for Yan Li to bring her. Bai Bing wasn't—so he needed an excuse.

A key actress from a company project soon to collaborate was plausible enough.

Yan Li's introduction was skillfully phrased.

'Painted Skin' had big name recognition; the Four Great Classical Novels were traffic goldmines—Bai Bing's involvement in these three projects instantly sparked reporters' curiosity, surrounding her with questions.

Though she'd never faced such a scene, Bai Bing wasn't a rookie—her company had trained her for this.

Plus, with Wang Ou helping, though visibly nervous, she still got through it smoothly.

After passing the interview zone, Wang Ou smiled: "Bingbing, today wasn't wasted—Yan Zong's promotion alone will land you on several headlines."

Bai Bing wasn't stupid; she looked at Yan Li gratefully and thanked him.

Though the roles in the production were pre-assigned, a proper, conventional report featuring Yan Li personally bringing her on the red carpet and introducing her—this level of attention was worlds apart.

"Don't rush—this is just the beginning."

Yan Li rarely took the initiative to promote someone; how could this be all he had planned? More drama was coming.

He didn't drag it out long—after arriving at the venue and exchanging pleasantries, Yan Li pulled Wang Ou and Bai Bing over to Cheng Long.

Yan Li came to support 'The Kung Fu King' not because of Huayi, but because Cheng Long had invited him.

Earlier, Cheng Long had been very cooperative on Weibo; reciprocity is etiquette—Cheng Long supported Yan Li, so Yan Li must return the favor.

Of course, he also wanted to discuss something else with his brother—'New Tokyo Incident.'

Previously, the 'New Tokyo Incident' production team had sent an invitation for Fan Xiaopang to join.

Fan Xiaopang's team reviewed the script—the role was minimal, just a supporting part, and it was unclear who the female lead would be; they'd heard the role was meant for Xu Cai'nu, possibly sparking a battle over billing.

A billing battle meant nothing to Fan Xiaopang's team—even if the rival was one of the Four Dan and Two Bing, they'd fought before.

But for a supporting role, not even their own project, the cost-benefit ratio was terrible.

Fan Xiaopang declined politely, but the news reached Yan Li's ears. After learning the situation, he thought: if Fan Xiaopang didn't want it, it could go to Wang Ou—and now there was another option—Bai Bing.

'New Tokyo Incident' was funded by Ying Huang; Bai Bing was an Ying Huang artist—promoting their own artist made perfect sense.

Bai Bing herself had little chance to push for it, but if Yan Li helped pass the word, her odds would rise dramatically.

Yan Li promoted women by giving them resources himself, and also helped secure other opportunities—especially when they were under his own company.

Using others' resources to charm women gave him greater satisfaction; the other party didn't lose out either—they got promoted and shared in the profits.

Moreover, if Bai Bing acted in Cheng Long's film, her fame would rise sharply, which would also benefit 'Painted Skin' and 'The New Three Kingdoms' later.

One move, multiple gains; everyone wins!

Cheng Long glanced at Bai Bing and vaguely felt she looked familiar, then suddenly remembered.

"I remember—you're that Xiao Jin Xishan."

He had a faint impression of this girl; he'd heard about her at Ying Huang, that a new signing was aiming for the style of China's Jin Xishan, but later heard nothing more about her, never expecting she'd connected with Yan Li.

Cheng Long still owed Yan Li a favor, but he didn't promise outright—only said he'd recommend her to Ying Huang and director Er Dongsheng.

With those words, it was practically settled.

If Cheng Long agreed, Yan Li could speak to Ying Huang and Er Dongsheng; landing a minor role wasn't that hard.

After chatting with Cheng Long, Bai Bing was dazed; she never would've imagined Yan Li was pushing her for a role in Cheng Long's film.

Wang Ou was also stunned, mixed with a touch of jealousy—Yan Li was being too kind to Bai Bing.

Seeing this, Yan Li gently patted her hand but didn't explain right away.

His promotion of Bai Bing was, in fact, part of his own plan.