Chapter 37

Although he was fitted for makeup on the day he joined the set, Seeing Yan Li didn't start filming his first scene until the third day, while Zhou Yi had already begun earlier.

This also had to do with Wu Tian's role being genuinely minor.

In the drama "Conquest," Wu Tian was the first enemy Liu Huaqiang killed to avenge his brother.

But in reality, their grudge was not deep, and Wu Tian's death was utterly unjust.

In the plot, their conflict arose because Wu Tian ran a video game arcade, while Liu Huaqiang guarded another arcade, and the two clashed over business.

Of course, this was only one reason; another was that Wu Tian abandoned his mistress Li Li, who, seeking revenge, offered Liu Huaqiang 20,000 yuan plus sexual favors to teach Wu Tian a lesson.

The business dispute combined with Li Li's hired hit led Liu Huaqiang to smash Wu Tian's establishment, after which their conflict escalated into open warfare.

Liu Huaqiang outmatched Feng Biao, who guarded Wu Tian's place; Wu Tian then bowed to Liu, paying him through the intermediary Zhou Guoquan for peace.

From then on, the two had no further contact, and Wu Tian had nothing to do with Liu Huaqiang's brother's severe injury.

But Liu Huaqiang didn't know who the real killer was, so he planned to kill everyone who had ever wronged him.

Wu Tian, due to his complicated social background and minimal connection to Liu Huaqiang, was unlikely to draw police attention or alarm them, so he became the first to be eliminated.

Thus, in the drama "Conquest," Wu Tian served more as a catalyst.

He introduced Liu Huaqiang's revenge plot, his past experiences, and the truly ruthless Li Li, who ran through the entire drama.

In Seeing Yan Li's view, Wu Tian had only five substantial scenes.

Seeking the intermediary Zhou Guoquan's help, paying Liu Huaqiang to submit, turning on Zhou Guoquan, turning on his mistress Li Li, and being shot dead on the street by Liu Huaqiang and his men.

Beyond that, there were scattered minor scenes—ten or twenty in total—not worth mentioning.

If filmed intensively, it would take barely a week, and even that speed would be considered slow.

But Seeing Yan Li wasn't big enough to call the shots; he had to follow the production schedule, and even though Gao Qunshu was rushing to save money, it would still take at least half a month.

After makeup, Seeing Yan Li arrived on set; today's scene was the one where he clashed with Li Li.

Seeing Yan Li also met Jiang Shan, the actress portraying Li Li—the biggest star on the "Conquest" set.

Several years ago, Jiang Shan, if not the most popular actress, was certainly among the top names in the industry.

Especially in the mid-1990s, her landmark drama "Just a Taste" became a massive hit; Jiang Shan became nationally famous, setting trends, with the saying: "No woman hadn't cut her hair like Du Mei, no man hadn't secretly loved Jiang Shan."

Now, nearly a decade later, as Jiang Shan aged, her looks and figure inevitably declined, no longer as beautiful or captivating as Du Mei in "Just a Taste."

Still, she was once a legendary beauty, with a solid foundation; she still deserved to be called graceful and alluring.

Seeing Yan Li had just joined the cast and had only appeared briefly; Jiang Shan had never met him. When she learned this handsome young man was "Wu Tian," who had slept with her, she teased him.

"I guess I'm getting the better deal here—old cow eating tender grass."

"Don't say that—if anyone's getting the better deal, it's me."

Seeing Yan Li looked deeply honored: "You were the goddess of our school back then. If my classmates knew I was acting with you, they'd be green with envy."

Jiang Shan laughed: "Haha, you've got a sweet tongue."

Seeing Yan Li shook his head: "Honest words. Will you do me a favor and take a photo with me later? I'll show it off properly."

"No problem."

Everyone loves to hear pleasant words, regardless of whether they are true or false; flattered by this handsome young man, Jiang Shan felt delighted.

Seeing Yan Li pressed on, showering her with praise, making her laugh continuously, growing increasingly warm and friendly toward him; within half an hour of their first meeting, they began addressing each other as brother and sister.

Seeing Yan Li's behavior made Zhou Yi, who had no scenes today but came to hang out, feel stunned!

No way—Jiang Shan is over ten years older than Li Ge! Can he really go for her?!

If Sun Honglei knew his thoughts, he'd sneer at such an outdated mindset.

Young people have no experience!

So what if a woman is older? Older women know how to care for you, look after you in daily life, help you with your career. Soft-man meals may look bad and sound bad, but they taste delicious.

Zhou Yi clearly didn't think that way. He found a chance to pull Seeing Yan Li aside, stammering, trying to advise him.

Seeing Yan Li didn't understand at first, but when he finally got it, he nearly kicked him.

What did this kid think he was?!

Even if he were desperate, he'd never go for a woman over ten years his senior—especially one who was married. To seduce a married woman? Would he even have any face left after that?

Seeing Yan Li's goal in courting Jiang Shan was simple: first, habit—he was naturally kind to people, avoiding trouble.

Second, expanding his network—Jiang Shan was a former star with status in the industry; if he could befriend her, she might one day help him land an opportunity.

Third, later today they'd film a scene where his character was hostile, even verbally abusive and physically threatening.

Though acting and real life were separate, you couldn't guarantee someone wouldn't hold a grudge. Others didn't matter, but Jiang Shan was the set's big star; Seeing Yan Li didn't want to offend her, so he needed to lay the groundwork first.

Zhou Yi finally realized he'd misunderstood.

But it wasn't his fault for being shocked—Zhou Yi had seen Seeing Yan Li's abilities firsthand.

One of the prettiest girls in their class, Che Xiao, had previously been hot and heavy with Seeing Yan Li; Dong Xuan, the most beautiful campus beauty of the 2000 cohort, was Seeing Yan Li's girlfriend.

Remember, Dong Xuan was in the undergraduate class; at Beijing Film Academy, the vocational class and undergraduate class were on different tiers—almost considered inferior.

Yet under the tight watch and relentless pursuit of the 2000 undergraduate male students and even the two senior classes above, Seeing Yan Li somehow won Dong Xuan over.

An incredible feat!

Even more absurd: later, Seeing Yan Li quietly got the prettiest girl of the next cohort, 2001, Huang Shengyi, to approach him voluntarily for kissing scene guidance.

Had it not been discovered early and had graduation not been imminent, who knew if it might have progressed to bed scene guidance?

Also, when Seeing Yan Li broke up with Dong Xuan, his friends assumed the rift was so severe that even if he managed to reconcile, he'd have to shed skin to do it.

But after Seeing Yan Li spent over a month in Hengdian—reportedly not calling Dong Xuan once—he returned to Jingcheng, and within days, the two were back together, shamelessly.

And it was Dong Xuan, who had initiated the breakup, who begged for reconciliation; Seeing Yan Li, the one at fault, reluctantly refused.

Zhou Yi had a proud, aloof personality and looked down on ordinary people, but when it came to seducing women, he admired Seeing Yan Li utterly.

Imagine: you have a friend with such a legendary romantic record, and suddenly he wins over a middle-aged beauty—how could you not think the worst?

After Zhou Yi's interruption, Seeing Yan Li, though amused and exasperated, became much more restrained.

It wasn't Seeing Yan Li being conceited, but when it came to winning women's favor, he truly had a natural gift.

Sweet-tongued, handsome, and in great shape!

Even without using system functions, just these basic physical advantages could win over many women's hearts.

Moreover, Seeing Yan Li remembered something, according to system intelligence.

Jiang Shan and her husband Gao Shuguang were currently having marital problems, having once reached the point of considering divorce; this was precisely the time when a woman was most sensitive and vulnerable—too careless, and he might accidentally take advantage of her weakness...

(End of Chapter)