[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment":3,"chapter-the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-392":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Intelligence King of Chinese Entertainment",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2260695,4411,"Chapter 392: Yi","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-392",392,"\u003Cp>In early April, Zhang Yimou’s “Love in the Hawthorn Tree” began filming in Yichang, Hubei Province, with the male and female leads appearing at the opening ceremony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The male lead is Dou Yao, a complete newcomer studying at Beijing Film Academy, recommended to Zhang Yimou—this film is his first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The female lead is Zhao Liying, who has been in the industry for years but lacks fame, having only played minor or extra roles; after multiple rounds of auditions and with Fan Xiaopang’s strong advocacy, she secured the lead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the leads were announced, it sparked massive controversy, with Zhao Liying, the new “Mou Girl,” becoming the target of criticism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why choose someone with no figure and a plain face to play Jingqiu?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike typical Mou Girls, “Love in the Hawthorn Tree” has an original novel with considerable influence, so people already had their own image of Jingqiu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most importantly, in the novel, Jingqiu is curvaceous; even if not picking the best, there was no need to pick the worst.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhang Yimou had his own thoughts on this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The novel is text, offering readers imaginative freedom; film is a visual art—he wanted a naive, pure, fragile yet resilient Jingqiu, one who could contrast with the taller male lead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So from the start of casting, Zhang Yimou leaned toward slender, slim candidates; Zhao Liying’s breakthrough was tied to her physique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, Yang Mi, who also auditioned, was immediately eliminated due to her fame and figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, even though her figure matched and her appearance was delicate and sweet, fitting the era’s aesthetic, securing the role was still fraught with twists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One key issue was her age—Zhang Yimou wanted someone young, ideally at the tail end of adolescence, with a touch of childishness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, Zhao Liying was only in her early twenties, with a baby face and baby fat, not just youthful-looking—she could convincingly play a minor without any mismatch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yimou was still unsatisfied, because he wanted that unpolished, instinctive naivety and innocence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Liying had been in the industry for years, and her personality was ambitious; pretending to be pure was no problem. But claiming she was genuinely pure? That was deception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So by the final stages, Zhao Liying was nearly discarded by Zhang Yimou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since she wasn’t perfect and Zhang Yimou still hadn’t found anyone truly satisfying, he eventually chose a senior high school student—only barely acceptable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, the importance of having powerful backing became clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When opportunity is nearly ripe, a push can secure success; without support, even a step away feels like an impassable chasm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang first took Zhao Liying to meet Jia Qian, head of Yi’an’s artist agency business.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Qian had met Zhao Liying a few times before and remembered the girl, establishing a basis for cooperation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang stated that if Zhao Liying landed the role, she would sign with Yi’an directly, not her own studio, to gain support from the artist agency department.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Qian was very interested in Yi’an signing a Mou Girl; although if Zhang Yimou agreed, the high school student could also sign with Yi’an, there was still Fan Xiaopang involved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As previously mentioned, artist agency business held low status at Yi’an; Jia Qian had long sought to cling to a powerful ally and stand shoulder to shoulder with Fan Xiaopang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Jia Qian agreed to have Yi’an’s artist agency department formally express support for Zhao Liying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li always believed in promoting his own people; in casting for Yi’an’s film and TV projects, the artist agency department had considerable influence—though not decisive, it couldn’t be easily ignored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides the artist agency department, Fan Xiaopang also enlisted a senior from the film department to help, then invited Zhang Yimou and his wife to dinner, with Zhao Liying accompanying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this dinner, Fan Xiaopang, after a brief introduction, didn’t mention Zhao Liying once, instead chatting merrily with Mrs. Zhang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Zhao Liying’s presence at this dinner already proved her stance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang was currently at the peak of her influence, but that alone couldn’t sway Zhang Yimou; the key was that Fan Xiaopang had Yan Li behind her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yimou could disregard Fan Xiaopang and withstand pressure from several Yi’an executives, but he couldn’t ignore Yan Li.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, Yan Li claimed he wouldn’t interfere in casting and never showed up in person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as long as Zhang Yimou hadn’t lost his wits, he knew that without Yan Li’s tacit approval, Fan Xiaopang wouldn’t have made such a public push.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Yimou wasn’t stubborn by nature; although Zhao Liying wasn’t his ideal choice, she was acceptable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, after intense competition, Zhao Liying ultimately succeeded in securing the role.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she won the role, the public generally held a skeptical view, with some even criticizing her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t forget, Zhang Yimou had just finished “Three Musketeers,” at his lowest point of prestige; Zhao Liying’s lack of acceptance was partly due to his influence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though negative voices were numerous, for Zhao Liying, it was excellent exposure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Artists aren’t afraid of being criticized—they’re afraid of not becoming famous!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From her debut in 2006 until now, Zhao Liying finally gained some fame, even appearing on multiple trending topics, with her Weibo followers growing significantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Remember, this was only the start of filming; if the film performed well upon release, Zhao Liying could become an overnight sensation, and if she delivered a strong performance, she could turn criticism into support, boosting her popularity dramatically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many actors face intense scrutiny before filming begins; some sink to rock bottom, while others soar to the top.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fan Xiaopang specifically met with Zhao Liying, encouraging her to gather her composure, focus on filming, and seize this rare opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Zhao Liying elevated as a Mou Girl, her status rose; Fan Xiaopang also increased her level of attention toward her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Zhao Liying shone in “Love in the Hawthorn Tree,” Fan Xiaopang would further increase investment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Liying was deeply grateful for Fan Xiaopang’s help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don’t pretend Fan Xiaopang had no ulterior motives—she isn’t her mother; having no motives would be strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Liying gained Fan Xiaopang’s support with almost no cost, and she’ll continue to rely on Fan; naturally, she’ll do whatever Bingbing asks—follow orders without question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Notably, Huayi didn’t learn Zhao Liying had become a Mou Girl until the “Love in the Hawthorn Tree” filming announcement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But by then it was too late; to facilitate her exit, Zhao Liying had already terminated her contract with Huayi before signing “Love in the Hawthorn Tree,” and immediately signed with Yi’an.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The termination fee was paid by Yi’an, to be deducted later from Zhao Liying’s earnings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Zhao Liying was confirmed for “Love in the Hawthorn Tree,” Yi’an outright waived the debt as a gesture of goodwill and welcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Mou Girl still carried weight, and with Fan Xiaopang’s attention, though Zhao Liying had only recently joined Yi’an, she was already a key talent under cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her file was circulated among Yi’an’s senior executives, even drawing some attention from Boss Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Zheng also noticed Zhao Liying, but didn’t take it too seriously—compared to a newcomer, his current priority was filming his new drama “Palace: Heart Jade.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Palace: Heart Jade” was Yu Zheng’s pet project; he brought in the popular leading actress Yang Mi as the female lead, but hadn’t found a suitable male lead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He initially wanted Yan Kuan, but Yan refused to shave his head; he then considered Qiao Zhenyu, who had already accepted Tang Ren’s “Blossoms in the Mist.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was one key point causing tension between Yu Zheng and Tang Ren.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, Yu Zheng had wanted to film “Blossoms in the Mist,” but Tang Ren snatched the rights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Zheng approached Tang Ren to buy the rights; Tang Ren, confident in the script, refused outright, and the negotiations ended badly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Zheng then poached several key staff from Tang Ren; backed by Yi’an with abundant projects and resources, he held a clear advantage over Tang Ren’s limited output.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This move angered Cai Zong of Tang Ren, and the dispute escalated to Yan Li.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Poaching staff was wrong; Tang Ren had been a long-term partner of Yi’an. Yan Li gave Yu Zheng a mild reprimand, and the matter was quietly dropped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yu Zheng was Bufu ; he dared not challenge Yan Li, so he pushed Yi’an’s TV department to produce an original Qing-dynasty drama he had written—“Palace: Heart Jade”—to compete directly with “Blossoms in the Mist.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, because Yan Li had handled the matter lightly, Tang Ren was dissatisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally planned to co-produce “Blossoms in the Mist,” Tang Ren ended up giving Yi’an no share; had Qiao Zhenyu’s role not already been locked in, they might have replaced him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, some in Yi’an’s TV department felt Tang Ren was being unfair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the years, Tang Ren’s growth relied on Yi’an’s support; Yi’an also profited, and overall, their cooperation had been mutually beneficial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that Tang Ren had grown strong, they were “stealing” projects and hoarding profits—if they weren’t reined in, who would still respect Yi’an?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the hardline faction in the TV department aligned with Yu Zheng; “Palace: Heart Jade” was greenlit, and Yu Zheng subtly fired a few verbal shots at Tang Ren.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the male lead issue remained stuck; eventually, he dug up a candidate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cui Peng, a 2000 graduate of Beijing Film Academy and classmate of Dong Xuan, had previously played the monk Wuhua in “The Legend of Chu Liuxiang,” enjoying decent fame; crucially, he was handsome and could handle the bald look effortlessly—even enhancing his appeal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Additionally, Yu Zheng had a personal motive: he wanted to pit Cui Peng’s Wuhua against Qiao Zhenyu’s Chu Liuxiang from “Blossoms in the Mist.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only would this be a reunion of Cui Peng and Qiao Zhenyu, rivals from “The Legend of Chu Liuxiang,” but also a showdown between Yang Mi and Liu Shishi, close friends.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Palace: Heart Jade” vs. “Blossoms in the Mist”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Mi sided with Yu Zheng; though this could be explained as an actor following company orders, it created distance with Tang Ren, affecting her close friend Liu Shishi and boyfriend Hu Ge to some extent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yang Mi didn’t waver; compared to her close friend and romantic interest, she now needed to seize every opportunity to climb higher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yi’an’s IPO offered many opportunities; Chairman Qin was now bolstered by his child’s influence, increasing his authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With two supporters, surpassing Wang Ou and catching up to Fan Xiaopang, ascending to first-tier status and becoming Yi’an’s next top actress was within reach; a few friends and a man were a price worth paying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li knew about Yu Zheng and Tang Ren’s feud but didn’t take it seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Internal conflicts were common within Yi’an, let alone between companies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entertainment industry was a battlefield of fame and profit; behind-the-scenes rivalries and covert struggles were endless; Yan Li wasn’t a babysitter, playing peacemaker every day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let them fight—it was just two projects; who won or lost didn’t affect Yi’an’s overall interests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Yan Li, both Yu Zheng and Tang Ren were getting a bit arrogant; a little mutual reprimand was healthy; if things went too far, he could always step in to stabilize the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Yan Li had no time to deal with Yu Zheng and Tang Ren’s conflict—Yi’an’s IPO had reached its final stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shenzhen, a luxury hotel\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li, dressed in formal attire, arrived at the Yi’an IPO venue with several senior executives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterward, Fan Xiaopang led the way, with celebrity shareholders Ning Hao, Deng Chao, Wang Ou, Huang Bao, Yu Zheng, and Lin Jiachuan also appearing at the venue.\u003C\u002Fp>",1945,"2026-06-19T16:16:54.562Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","f0af7f2eb2d292861390e2affdfae3366a8b92de7f9793050f38330a672b199f","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-393","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-391",405,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-cover.jpg"]