Chapter 324

Central, Yung Kee Restaurant

Yan Li didn't care much about upscale dining when traveling abroad; he preferred seeking out local flavors, regardless of whether he could tolerate them—just to broaden his horizons and not come away empty-handed.

Whether by coincidence or because Boss Yang of Yinghuang had specifically inquired about Yan Li's tastes,

the Yung Kee he hosted at was a renowned old-established restaurant in Xiangjiang, famous for its roast goose, deeply Hong Kong in character, with excellent decor and ambiance—not at all disrespectful to a distinguished guest.

"Mr. Yan, welcome to Xiangjiang. I apologize for the abrupt invitation—please don't take offense."

"Mr. Yang, you're too kind. I came to Xiangjiang on personal business and never expected to trouble you."

Boss Yang personally stepped out to greet Yan Li; the two shook hands and exchanged warm pleasantries.

Yan Li had not interacted much with Yinghuang, but neither had he been entirely absent—private industry gatherings aside, it was Yan Li who had initially introduced Jiang Wen's *The Sun Also Rises*, and there had been some dealings between them during the X-Zhao Gate incident.

Because of this, and because Yinghuang intended to shift its focus northward and cultivate ties with mainland entities,

Yi'an, as one of the mainland's cinematic giants, was naturally a key target for such outreach.

Upon learning Yan Li had arrived in Xiangjiang, Boss Yang, as host, naturally sought to court him.

Yinghuang wanted to build ties with the mainland; Yan Li, too, wished to establish some relationship with Yinghuang.

Yan Li held certain views about Hong Kong and Taiwan actors and capital, but he did not outright reject or oppose them.

If someone put on airs, acted like a big shot, or tried to lord it over others, Yan Li would never indulge them—but if they were willing to cooperate sincerely, he wouldn't leave money on the table.

The three major cinematic giants in Hong Kong's circle are Mila, Anle, and Yinghuang—each with money, resources, channels, and the clout to carve up the mainland market.

Other mid-tier Hong Kong players like Jiaoyang Films, Oriental Films, and Silver Galaxy Impressions lacked such confidence.

A few years ago, they could still afford to posture; now, the gap with mainland giants had become unmistakable.

In another two years, as the mainland market further booms and hot money floods in, mainland film companies will go public, raise capital, lack no funds, and control market resources—then they'll begin to dictate terms to these smaller Hong Kong firms.

Even giants like Yinghuang will have to bow their heads—but with their strength, their position will remain far better.

As for Yi'an, cooperating with Hong Kong's circle is profitable, but not essential.

The reason Yan Li still engaged was simply because he didn't want to hand the advantage to others.

Hong Kong's northward push couldn't be stopped; co-productions were gradually becoming the industry norm—even *Painted Skin* had managed to wrap itself in a co-production shell.

If Yi'an ignored them, Mila, Anle, and their big money and resources would be snapped up by Huayi, Orange Sky, and Bona without hesitation.

Would you be so foolish as to fund your rivals and quietly make enemies of them?

Conversely, if Yan Li cooperated with Hong Kong's circle, he could leverage it to accelerate Yi'an's growth—and crucially, reduce Hong Kong's collaboration with rivals like Huayi.

Cooperation with Hong Kong wasn't important; preventing Hong Kong from cooperating with rivals like Huayi was.

Yinghuang took this welcome dinner for Yan Li seriously: Boss Yang himself showed up, several core executives came, and several top artists arrived as well.

Including Xie and Zhang, ostensibly to thank Yan Li for his help during the X-Zhao Gate incident.

The other party involved, Zhong, didn't come—probably out of embarrassment.

To be honest, Yan Li was somewhat impressed—whether it was Yinghuang's lack of decency or these people's extraordinary resilience,

during the peak of the X-Zhao Gate scandal, Zhang and Zhong hadn't paused their work.

Zhong returned to work less than two weeks after the exposé; Zhang held out a few days longer, publicly filming advertisements—even lingerie ads—and they both stubbornly persisted until the backlash became too severe and the disruptions too disruptive, forcing them to halt.

Now, both were still on hiatus, doing only minor, fragmented work; their teammates had also been somewhat affected.

No wonder Boss Yang hated Teacher Chen—if it were Yan Li, he'd crush Chen to death.

He nearly destroyed several of his cash cows in one go—no one would do something so ruthless, let alone if it seemed to involve Yang's own relatives.

Yan Li didn't converse much with Zhang; reputations and shadows, neither was a good person, and with her husband present, he still needed to avoid suspicion.

Xie, however, chatted for a while. Yan Li had heard this man was arrogant and pretentious, but he felt no such thing—on the contrary, he found him quite humble.

That's the difference of position, environment, and perception.

Look up, and you see only cold backsides; look down, and you see only smiling faces.

Over the past few years, Yan Li had hardly met a single difficult person in this entertainment circle—even the notoriously hard-nosed ones were smooth and warm in conversation.

One reason was Yan Li's high status—no one dared provoke him; the other was his high EQ and lack of bad habits—he was always courteous and composed, as long as you didn't provoke him.

As a result, everything was harmonious—everyone got along well.

The dinner ended with everyone delighted; as Yan Li was being escorted to his car, a female executive from Yinghuang handed him her business card.

"Mr. Yan, Xiangjiang has many interesting places—if you find touring alone too lonely, feel free to contact me—I'll arrange a companion for you."

Yan Li glanced at her—he recognized her: Huo Wenxi, head of Yinghuang's artist management, and the agent for Xie Tingfeng and Sammi Cheng.

"Thank you, Manager Huo."

"Companion" meant what everyone knew—it was out of politeness that Yan Li didn't refuse the card, but he wouldn't call.

He wasn't that lustful, and he didn't trust Yinghuang!

After Yan Li left, Boss Yang turned to Huo Wenxi: "There's a mainland artist from a company—I heard Mr. Yan gave him a word."

"Yes, the artist is Bai Bing—he signed with us less than two years ago. He's said to have some connection with Mr. Yan, who personally recommended him to Brother for *Shinjuku Incident* and even secured him a Yi'an film offer."

Boss Yang paused, then said: "Investigate further—if confirmed, provide appropriate cultivation and attention."

Huo Wenxi replied: "Understood. I noticed Mr. Yan accepted the card calmly, as if uninterested—should we bring Bai Bing to Xiangjiang?"

"No need. If he wanted to come, he'd have come himself. He didn't bring him—that means he has other plans. We've shown proper courtesy; don't meddle."

Given Yan Li's reputation, Boss Yang suspected he had women in Xiangjiang—better not do something well-intentioned but mistaken.

Moreover, even if Yinghuang wanted to build ties with Yi'an and form cooperation, the two sides were relatively equal—warmth and caution were fine, but no need for excessive groveling.

…

After finishing with Yinghuang, Yan Li planned to just nod at Huang Bai Ming and be done with it—but this man had actually blocked the entrance of the Peninsula Hotel waiting for him.

He must have seen Yan Li's close ties with Yinghuang and felt some pressure.

If Yi'an cooperated with Yinghuang, the latter's Hong Kong resources and connections would make Oriental Films irrelevant.

Huang Bai Ming had long been positioning himself on the mainland, with ties to Shanghai Film and Bona; he could survive without Yi'an—but after all the effort he'd invested in building these relationships, and with Yi'an's momentum so strong, who would willingly abandon such a powerful partner?

If it weren't for Xiao Huang Zong claiming he had a good relationship with Yan Li and was similar in age, and that they got along better privately, Huang Baiming would have come himself.

Right now, Xiao Huang Zong has already sworn a military oath to his old man that he must get along well with Yan Li; if he messes it up, he'll be in for a beating.

Since Xiao Huang Zong was the first to invite him, and showed such humility, and their two families' relations were also quite good, Yan Li couldn't just keep refusing.

"How about this—find a quiet place, have some drinks, and chat."

Xiao Huang Zong was a little disappointed; he wanted to take Yan Li experience Xiangjiang's decadent nightlife, but Yan Li seemed uninterested in such things.

No wonder he could build such a huge fortune from nothing at such a young age.

Xiao Huang Zong reflected a bit, thinking he should also learn from Master Yan and cut down on nightclubs.

Yan Li himself didn't realize that Xiao Huang Zong's flattery and favoritism, while partly due to status and cooperation, also stemmed from a bit of personal admiration—he was half a fan.

Two years ago, when Xiao Huang Zong first met Yan Li, he was actually somewhat resentful.

But over these two years, he and Yan Li had become friends, exchanged some words, and personally witnessed this man, only two years younger than him, rise rapidly—from new money in the circle to industry titan, even his own father gradually began to look up to him.

Xiao Huang Zong's resentment turned to respect, then to admiration.

For someone like Xiao Huang Zong, a second-generation rich kid, he despised and hated most the self-made peers of his age, yet sometimes, he admired and respected people like Yan Li the most.

As far as Xiao Huang Zong knew, among Xiangjiang's second- and third-generation elites, there were many who admired and held favorable views toward Yan Li, this mainland storm figure.

Xiangjiang used to be a land of storms and turmoil, a place where dragons and tigers prowled, producing countless talents, but in recent years, class barriers had gradually formed, and self-made powerhouses had become rarer.

With no such figures locally, a few flashy mainland tycoons had become popular foreign monks.

Xiao Huang Zong found a quiet bar, listened to soothing music, ate some late-night snacks, drank, and chatted—it felt nice enough.

It would be better if fewer girls came up to hit on him!

Yan Li didn't know whether it was because he'd been recognized, or because Xiao Huang Zong was famous, or because his charm had become the center of attention.

Only when Xiao Huang Zong pointed to his Armani shirt and Patek Philippe watch did Yan Li understand what was going on.

In today's mainland, still in development, concepts like fashion and luxury goods hadn't yet spread; unless one was a fashionable white-collar, a gold-digger, or someone obsessed with studying them, most people couldn't recognize a few luxury brands.

Take Patek Philippe—many hadn't even heard those four characters, and even if they had, if you put the watch before them, they still couldn't identify it.

But Xiangjiang was different; it had been popularizing such things since last century, and many girls knew all the high-end brands by heart.

Those who recognized Yan Li, needless to say; those who didn't, just by his clothes and watch, knew he was a wealthy sucker—of course they'd try their luck.

Yan Li shook his head, took off his watch, and immediately the place grew much quieter.

After all, a branded outfit wasn't especially expensive; an ordinary white-collar could stretch to buy a set just to look good, but a luxury watch was different.

This watch Yan Li wore was a birthday gift from Fan Xiaopang, worth over 400,000—most people would have to grind their teeth to afford it.

Still, he was a little curious: "Are these people's eyes so sharp? Don't they fear I'm wearing fakes?"

In Yan Li's memory, Xiangjiang's fake market was thriving and popular, with mainland tourists specifically coming to buy them.

"Who cares? Just try your luck—what if you get lucky? Besides, Master Yan is handsome and fit; even if he's broke, you still don't lose out."

Xiao Huang Zong, experienced as he was, guessed most of their thoughts; Yan Li understood.

Hong Kong women have always been open; even locals criticize them, and the term has subtly become derogatory; for them, hitting on men in bars and one-night stands are everyday affairs.

Perhaps some really were drawn by Yan Li's charm—after all, Boss Yan's appearance, physique, and aura were still quite impressive.

"They're all just common, cheap beauties; if Master Yan is interested, I can arrange better ones."

Seeing this, Xiao Huang Zong immediately offered his services; Yan Li felt slightly annoyed.

What image did he have in these people's minds? Why did everyone treat him like some kind of...?

Yan Li smiled politely, changed the subject, talked about some industry gossip and project news, then got to the real business.

Xiao Huang Zong didn't call him just for nothing; Oriental Films had just rebooted the "Home Sweet Home" series.

This series had some fame; back then, it even brought in Chow Yun-fat and Zhou Xingchi to star.

But years passed, times changed; Hong Kong cinema's dominance had plummeted, no longer enjoying the days when local box office reached tens of millions and Taiwan and Southeast Asia scrambled for rights.

The new "Home Sweet Home" wanted to make money, so it couldn't ignore the mainland market—in fact, mainland box office and other revenues would be the film's main source.

Bona, Oriental's most frequent mainland partner, had little interest in such low-budget comedies.

Instead, Light Chaser, which had previously collaborated on "Firestorm," proactively reached out to Oriental Films.

But since Light Chaser currently had weak reputation and depth in the film market, Huang Baiming preferred Yi'an, which was powerful and had outstanding performance in low-budget films.

Yan Li had only mild interest in the "Home Sweet Home" project—neither here nor there.

But out of respect for the Huang family father and son, he would later have Yi'an do an estimate; if the prospects looked good, he'd choose to co-invest, otherwise, Yi'an would only cooperate on distribution.

What Oriental Films cared about most was Yi'an's mainland distribution channels.

Money for investment was easy to find; the key was how to sell it.

As the mainland market grew more developed, Yi'an, holding both distribution and theater chains, would gain greater leverage in collaborations with Hong Kong circles.

Besides "Home Sweet Home," there was also "Ip Man"; Oriental hoped Yi'an would give it extra attention.

This didn't need Xiao Huang Zong to mention—Yi'an was already one of the producers of "Ip Man"; naturally, it wouldn't slack off.

After finishing these matters, Xiao Huang Zong was reassured; Yan Li signaled to wrap up and return to the hotel to rest.

Xiao Huang Zong personally saw Yan Li back, then called his father to report good news.

Huang Baiming asked about the details, was generally satisfied, then told his son to keep cultivating his relationship with Yan Li.

While Yan Li was in Xiangjiang, stay in touch, but don't overdo it—don't interfere with his real work; the key is to cater to his preferences.

Everyone knew what Yan Li liked.

Xiao Huang Zong replied: "I asked—he didn't respond, seemed uninterested."

Huang Baiming rubbed his forehead: "Who told you to ask? How would he answer if you asked? Would he just say outright he wanted women?"

"Yan Li achieved success young, doesn't lack women, and values face. How could he ever ask outright? Just arrange it directly—he'll take the best; if he refuses, you've still shown your sincerity as a friend, and even used it as an excuse to apologize or find another beauty, creating another chance to draw closer."

Huang Baiming had one son and one daughter; this son, Xiao Huang Zong, had joined the company early and was his heir apparent; now he was being taught bit by bit.

He urged Xiao Huang Zong to befriend Yan Li—not just because they were similar in age and easy to talk to, but most importantly, to pave his son's path and build connections.

Little Boss Huang suddenly understood: "I get it, I'll arrange it right away."

Huang Baiming thought for a moment, still a bit uneasy, and gave his son advice: "Find Kim—she's an expert, she knows how to arrange it."

Little Boss Huang nodded; he knew Kim fairly well. Over the past two years, she'd grown considerably, with a whole roster of models and connections to numerous wealthy heirs and male stars, even having promoted one Tianwang's wife.

He couldn't read Yan Li's vibe, so he'd let this experienced person handle it.

…

"Young Master Huang, rest assured—I'll take excellent care of Master Yan."

After hanging up, Kim pumped her fist in excitement. Last time, during the Ip Man filming crew, Xiong Dailin was kicked out by Yi An—but received compensation.

She personally accompanied Xiong northward, hoping to connect with Yan Li, but never even got to see him.

Come on, Hong Kong entertainment may be more developed, but the mainland's growth isn't slow either.

There are countless independent agents holding models and minor artists—who doesn't want to ride Yan Boss's wave and soar? None of them got the chance, let alone Kim, an outsider.

After circling around, Kim returned empty-handed, but she'd seen firsthand Yi An's power on the mainland, and grew even more obsessed with this big shot, Yan Li.

Though the threshold is high, the payoff is too great to ignore.

At least Yan Li is lustful—there's a chance for her to connect. If he were the type who cared only about money and resources, she'd have no shot at all.

Still, though Kim was eager to act, she'd never found a good opening—until fortune turned: Yan Li himself came to Hong Kong, and Little Boss Huang even asked her to help host him—everything fell perfectly into place.

After hanging up, Kim began researching how to smoothly connect with Yan Li.

Her biggest card was Xiong Dailin; the title "Tianwang's Wife" still carried real value.

But if she could hook up with Yan Li, she could even abandon Guo Tianwang—after all, Guo himself wasn't loyal, and he'd always been stingy with Xiong.

Her other two cards were Wen Yongshan and Baby; both were doing well now, prominent figures in the mainland modeling scene, with some fame.

The rest? No halo, no filter.