Chapter 356: Daily Drama Watching

The next day, Tudou. com, Weibo, and Yi'an discussed share swaps.

But unlike previous Weibo and Yi'an share swaps, these two companies were now controlled entirely by Seeing Yan Li as their major shareholder and absolute owner, granting him absolute authority.

Moreover, Seeing Yan Li could cross-hold shares between the two companies, so the number of shares swapped between Weibo and Yi'an remained feasible.

But Tudou. com, after multiple rounds of financing and with numerous shareholders, couldn't possibly spare much equity.

Seeing Yan Li didn't pressure them—he aimed primarily to achieve cross-shareholding among the three parties and strategically bind them into an alliance; more shares were better, but fewer would still be acceptable.

After various discussions, Tudou. com eventually squeezed out nearly 5% of its shares.

Weibo planned to contribute 1.2–1.8%, while Yi'an offered slightly more, around 2–4%.

Weibo dominated the social media landscape, and its current valuation and prospects far surpassed Tudou. com's, which was locked in a brutal battle with Youku.

As a film and television company, Yi'an was certainly no match for Tudou's platform, but with its diverse content resources, the gap wasn't too wide.

The exact share swap figures still required tripartite discussions and the development of strategies to circumvent regulatory scrutiny.

Such cross-shareholding arrangements between interlinked businesses, while beneficial, were prone to attracting attention, so numerous contingency plans were needed to mitigate risks.

Being a Shangshi Company meant having many advantages but also many taboos; Seeing Yan Li spent every day reviewing related materials and consulting his legal team until his head felt numb.

Fortunately, Tudou. com's IPO wasn't his immediate concern, and Weibo wasn't close to going public yet—he only needed to manage Yi'an.

After resolving Tudou. com, Seeing Yan Li met over meals with Liu Lao from JD. com, Ganji. com, and other investment firms.

His pressure tactics against Tudou. com might have unsettled these people.

Especially Liu Lao from JD. com, who was sensitive about control of his own company and whose business complemented Weibo's—he was especially likely to overthink things, so Seeing Yan Li had to soothe him.

As his fame grew and his power strengthened, he became increasingly pivotal in the industry; every move he made could trigger speculation and chain reactions.

So after finishing his main tasks, Seeing Yan Li still had to handle countless follow-ups: building momentum and harvesting gains was one thing, but eliminating negative fallout was another—and sometimes even busier than the original work.

Tuanjiehu

Seeing Yan Li sat on the sofa while Yang Rong warmed him a cup of honey water: "You quit drinking just a couple days ago, and now you're drunk again, face flushed."

Qin Lan was filming "The Beauty's Scheme" in Hengdian; Dong Xuan and Fan Xiaopang's drama had also started shooting. Though based in Jingcheng, most of their time was spent on set.

Jiang Xin had been swamped since "Infiltration"; Wang Ou wasn't idle either, so Yang Rong returned to Jingcheng and became Seeing Yan Li's haven during this period.

"A heart-to-heart session—how can you bond if you don't drink your fill? But after this round, you'll finally have some relief."

Seeing Yan Li sipped from the cup. Quitting smoking wasn't too hard—he didn't have a strong habit, and a few snacks could easily control it.

Alcohol wasn't something he couldn't quit—it was just that in New Shanghai, avoiding it entirely was nearly impossible; he could only try to drink less.

Yang Rong looked at him, heart aching: "They say you've gotten richer, but I feel you're even more exhausted than before."

"That's exactly why it's exhausting—to be rich."

After finishing the honey water, Seeing Yan Li stretched and pulled Yang Rong close, embracing her as he sighed.

"Money—when you don't have it, you worry; when you have too much, you worry too. The happiest and most carefree time of my life was when my net worth was one or two hundred million—enough to live comfortably, not yet overwhelmed, still with room to climb."

To wear the Wang Guan, you must bear its weight!

Seeing Yan Li once thought many powerful figures spoke in pure pretense, talking from a position of comfort without suffering. But now that he'd reached a certain status, he finally understood the truth—standing high wasn't always comfortable.

Of course, this was just a bit of self-pity—he'd climbed so hard to get here; he wouldn't give it up for anything.

Yang Rong watched the melancholy Seeing Yan Li, unsure how to comfort him, so she pressed her body closer to show her support.

Seeing Yan Li smiled. He liked Yang Rong not only because she was forgiving, but because her nature was equally forgiving—she never fought or competed, and willingly tolerated his bad moods.

Previously, Qin Lan had played this role; now Yang Rong had joined, and they could take turns.

Thinking of this, Seeing Yan Li suddenly asked Yang Rong: "If Wang Ou were here, how would she comfort me?"

Yang Rong paused, then said two words: "Bed?"

Seeing Yan Li shook his head and corrected her: "No—she'd bring someone else to comfort me too."

Yang Rong froze, then pinched him: "I'm not her. Don't even think about making me do things with others."

This dog of a man had tested this several times recently, always trying to pair me with someone else—all because of that little seductress Wang Ou.

But Wang Ou was willing to indulge Seeing Yan Li; Yang Rong wouldn't budge—sharing him with Wang Ou was her absolute limit.

"You can't even satisfy yourself, yet you won't find help—aren't you torturing me?"

Seeing Yan Li complained: other men near thirty were declining in every aspect; he felt none of that—in fact, some desires were growing stronger.

That's why Qin Lan, Wang Ou, Fan Xiaopang, and others tolerated him—sometimes passively, sometimes willingly—because none of them could handle him alone.

Earlier in Hengdian, Qin Lan spent extra time with him, even moved back to a hotel after being forced out of Yi'an Garden, and then Hu and Li teamed up to put out the fire.

These days were the same—Seeing Yan Li often came to Yang Rong's place, but she couldn't handle it alone.

A day or two was fine, but daily hunger would make Seeing Yan Li complain.

Yang Rong bit her lip, feeling wronged: what could she do? She'd used everything she could—she even felt discomfort after using the restroom.

"Why not go to someone else after you're done?"

Yang Rong suggested: she couldn't accept others joining, so make Seeing Yan Li travel a bit—after all, Bai Bing, the new girl Wang Ou hired, didn't live far away.

"... Forget it. I'll endure."

Seeing Yan Li didn't want the hassle—he knew this would hurt one and upset another.

Not being full wasn't the same as starving; he'd make do, and in a couple days he'd visit the set of "Du La La's Promotion."

"Where's the remote? Turn on the TV—I haven't watched in ages."

Seeing Yan Li wanted something to distract himself, or else he'd risk losing control.

He really didn't watch TV dramas much anymore.

Even when he did, he rarely watched on TV—he mostly streamed online, to kill time, study market trends, or observe the performances of popular actors.

This was already the absolute limit of what he could do—purely out of his commitment as a part-time actor and producer.

Perhaps years from now, he'd lose even the time and mindset to watch dramas for leisure; by then, he wouldn't just lose touch with market trends—he might not even recognize some actors.

But by then, he probably wouldn't need to personally manage the specifics of film and television production anyway.

"Take a look at this one, 'Snail House'."

Yang Rong switched channels with the remote, and Seeing Yan Li stopped him when a local channel came on.

He knew this drama—he'd once considered investing in it, but never went through with it.

Two days ago, he'd seen discussions about it on Weibo; though it hadn't aired nationally yet, its influence was already strong, boosting the popularity of actors Wen Zhang and Zhang Jiayi.

Surprisingly, Yang Rong also knew this drama, and even dropped a revelation.

"The actress who played Haizao approached Ou Ou, but Ou Ou was busy, and the production team insisted on intimate scenes, so she turned it down."

"Wang Ou?"

Seeing Yan Li looked at the actress on screen—she was called… Li Nian. She wasn't particularly stunning, but looked pure and innocent.

If Wang Ou played her, she might be a bit too seductive—but not impossible.

Don't be fooled by this little flirt; she's only like this around Seeing Yan Li. In public, she's always proper.

She played the dignified and elegant Lady Ye in 'Ip Man' well; her other signature roles—in 'Great Qing Imperial Harem,' 'The Detective Di Renjie,' and others—were all similarly pure and dignified, occasionally with a touch of soft allure, fitting the character of a college girl turned corrupt official's mistress.

But Seeing Yan Li felt Wang Ou would still be too hard-edged for this role.

The best choices would be Yang Rong, Huo Siyan, or Bai Bing—women with softer features and demeanors, delicate and vulnerable, heartbreakingly lovely, capable of stirring a man's protective instinct; if they carried a hint of seduction, they'd be perfect.

From Seeing Yan Li's experience, this type of woman had devastating appeal to middle-aged and older men; a significant proportion of the mistresses he'd seen among powerful men were exactly this type.

Besides, many powerful men don't choose mistresses for beauty alone—they choose for how pleasing and compatible they seem.

Seeing Yan Li had even met mistresses who were plain-looking, even unattractive, but their patrons simply loved them—just liked this type. What could you do?

Leaving Haizao aside, this drama's boundaries were indeed quite bold.

The plotlines involving the corrupt official Song Siming made Seeing Yan Li instinctively rub his nose; though the writing was a bit exaggerated, some of its angles cut deep.

Then there was Haizao's affair with Song Siming, the NTR plot—when Wen Zhang's Xiao Bei, dressed in a green hoodie, called Haizao, and Song Siming slipped into bed—Seeing Yan Li nearly lost his composure.

Beside him, Yang Rong seemed immersed in the drama, perhaps recalling past phone calls, and muttered bitterly.

"How could this woman be so awful?"

Seeing Yan Li nodded and asked, "You think Haizao's bad?"

"Of course! She has a boyfriend and still screws around with other men, lies to her boyfriend, and takes advantage of Xiao Bei's love for her—it's disgusting."

"What about Song Siming?"

"He's no better—has a wife and kids, old enough to be her father, and still cheats on her with a girl, destroying her relationship. One's a modern Pan Jinlian, the other's a modern Ximen Qing."

Yang Rong delivered her sharp critique. Seeing Yan Li wanted to ask, "Then what are we?" but thought better of it—better not invite trouble.

Perhaps because of their different positions, ordinary viewers naturally identified with Wen Zhang's Xiao Bei and raged at Song and Haizao as a pair of scoundrels, but Seeing Yan Li instinctively identified with Song Siming.

He could even understand Haizao's actions—she was selfish, yes, but it was a smart choice.

Tch, he really had become corrupt!

Seeing Yan Li gave himself a brief reflection—he was drifting farther and farther from the pure, upright man he'd once been.

Yang Rong was still indignant on Xiao Bei's behalf, so Seeing Yan Li comforted her: "It's not so bad—by the looks of it, Haizao won't marry him anyway. She's escaped a disaster."

"Think about it—if they married, had children, and she kept doing this, she'd ruin his entire life."

Yang Rong thought it over—it was true. For Xiao Bei, it was bad—but from another angle, it was good.

"This drama's pretty good. Go buy me a DVD or download all the online resources later—I'll catch up on the earlier episodes, and just to be safe."

Though he'd watched less than two episodes, Seeing Yan Li could already discern the drama's patterns—its sharp critiques of real estate, extramarital affairs, class conflict, corruption, and other social pain points.

These elements were too sensitive. If it gained enough traction, the relevant authorities might step in.

Two episodes had aired; the hour was late. Seeing Yan Li had work tomorrow. He glanced at Yang Rong.

"Did you see that scene? I want to play too."

Yang Rong spat at him: "You're Ximen Qing."

Seeing Yan Li didn't care: "I'm Ximen Qing, you're Pan Jinlian—come and serve your great lord properly."

"…"

…

'Snail House' became more popular faster than Seeing Yan Li had imagined.

Though it hadn't aired nationally yet, its provocative plot and solid quality had sparked widespread online attention and discussion; multiple local channels scrambled to buy broadcast rights, and several internet video platforms joined in simulcasting.

Amid this unprecedented popularity, 'Snail House' was beginning to resemble the successor to 'In the Name of the People.'

Against this backdrop, Wen Zhang became the hottest actor of the moment—he'd finally found his niche—

The little man!

Whether because he was playing himself or not, Wen Zhang portrayed these men—decent but incompetent, causing trouble with their wives and girlfriends, pitiful little men—so vividly, it was uncanny.

Before this, his most iconic role was Xiang Nan in 'Struggle,' which followed the same pattern.

This time, Xiao Bei in 'Snail House' was even more extreme, heightening identification and empathy, drawing massive sympathy.

This "little man" archetype was highly appealing.

It reduced male viewers' sense of same-sex rivalry, while the traits of loving and fearing one's wife won favor among female viewers.

The character's halo projected onto the actor himself, and combined with Wen Zhang's own real-life resemblance, the line between role and person blurred—he reaped a frenzy of character-related popularity.

This was evident from the speed at which Wen Zhang gained followers on Weibo.

Though not as explosive as Jiang Xin's rise after 'In the Name of the People,' he routinely gained thousands of new followers daily—accumulated over time, it was no small thing.

When a man becomes famous, his status naturally changes.

Not only did his standing rise within Chengtian, but Yi'an also extended an olive branch.

With his current fame and popularity, he wasn't yet at the level where Yi'an would offer him a contract outright—but there were two projects perfectly suited to him, worth further collaboration.

For Wen Zhang's type of role, Yi'an currently had few actors who could pull it off well.

Lin Jiachuan and Zhou Yi had stern, cold faces; Deng Chao and Qiao Zhenyu were too handsome; Zhang Songwen and Huang Bo had decent acting and temperament, but lacked in looks.

Wen Zhang isn't handsome, but he isn't ugly either—he belongs to the type that's pleasantly unassuming and approachable, which allows him to leverage his small-man charm, smooth out the drama, and attract more viewers.

So many things that seem insignificant actually have their own thresholds.

Wen Zhang was quite straightforward—he's just getting started and hasn't reached the point of ignoring Yi'an.

Well, considering Yi'an's current scale, there are hardly any in the entire Chinese-language film and television industry, or even across all of Asia, who dare to ignore it.

Recently, several South Korean companies have wanted to collaborate with Yi'an, hoping to use it as a springboard to send their artists to the mainland to make money.

Qiu Cixuan, who previously collaborated with Yi'an on The Legend of Chu Liuxiang, specifically visited Seeing Yan Li's company, but unfortunately she wasn't influential enough, and Seeing Yan Li was too busy to meet her.

Wen Zhang, however, did meet him!

After all, he's currently at the height of his popularity, and with some personal connections, Seeing Yan Li made time specifically to see him once.