[{"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-5":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},2260308,4411,"Chapter 5: Classmates and Dorm Roommates of the 2000 Batch, North China Film Academy Vocational Program","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-5",5,"\u003Cp>They’re not worthy of facing me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In my eyes, they’re even worse than pus-filled sores.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m not afraid I’ll kill them—it’s your so-called four great masters I’m worried about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tsk…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While reciting his lines aloud, Yu Yanli’s expression grew increasingly unreadable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I want to curse the screenwriter again!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuwen Chengdu is that kind of invincible general who never met a worthy opponent before encountering Li Yuanba; it’s natural for such a man to be arrogant, but he should radiate a commanding, proud, and defiant aura rooted in absolute confidence in his strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the dialogue is written too cheaply, too watered-down—it doesn’t sound like a fearsome general who dominates three armies, but like a street-thug hoodlum from a Hong Kong gangster film.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yanli finally realized: he’d felt something familiar about Yuwen Chengdu’s character when he first read the script.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that he’s comparing it to Hong Kong gangster films, isn’t this guy just a classic villainous underboss from a yakuza flick?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He yells threats all day, starts fights at the drop of a hat, constantly gets humiliated, and leads his men in orderly queues like some lowly bureaucrat—no dignity, no charisma, no depth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This garbage screenwriter is just copying the entire Hong Kong gangster formula for Yuwen Chengdu…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And following this logic, Yu Yanli now saw that every court intrigue and battle scene in the script was indistinguishable from a gang’s power struggle over territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yanli genuinely doubted whether the future news report he’d seen in his monthly intelligence briefing—that this drama would become a hit—was real.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then he remembered how wildly popular “My Fair Princess” had been, despite its absurd historical inaccuracies, and his confidence wavered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The market speaks for itself—maybe audiences really love this kind of ridiculous historical gangster drama?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he internally seethed with contempt, Yu Yanli still diligently memorized his lines—he’d been paid, after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earning money isn’t shameful!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fatty and Cheng Long have shot plenty of trash too; even veteran artists have stumbled. Wait until you’re famous to pick your own scripts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, Yu Yanli had always preferred reciting lines out loud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On one hand, speaking them reinforced memory; on the other, it trained his tone, pacing, pauses, and emphasis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Memorizing lines wasn’t enough—you had to deliver them in a way that fit the character and scene, requiring constant refinement and practice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But today’s lines were so embarrassing that after reading a few passages, he kept sensing strange glances from passersby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he switched to silent memorization—get the lines locked in first, then practice aloud alone in his hotel room at night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since finishing breakfast, Yu Yanli had been practicing his lines in the woods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around ten o’clock, the sun blazed high, the air grew hot, and the small grove—already sparsely populated—now held only a handful of figures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The long-haired girl had packed up and left; as she passed Yu Yanli, she waved cheerfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yanli, absorbed in memorizing, nodded absently; she didn’t take it personally and walked off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Near eleven o’clock, the tree shade no longer blocked the sun effectively; fearing he’d get sunburned before his next scene, Yu Yanli packed up and returned to the hotel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After lunch, Yu Yanli nervously arrived at the makeup room for his character’s final look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, Wang Xiu was there—but fortunately, Wang Xiu was busy applying makeup to someone else and had no time for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Finalizing the look” meant determining the character’s hairstyle, makeup, and key costume elements before filming began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, designing new looks and outfits for each actor every morning would be impossible, so everything was settled beforehand and reused throughout filming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuwen Chengdu had few scenes, and the “Sui and Tang Heroes” crew didn’t care much—or perhaps their standards for costume, makeup, and props were simply low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from a handful of leads, everyone else looked identical: fixed hairstyles and makeup, with only minor changes to clothing and accessories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yanli’s makeup session today was nearly identical to his meeting with the director yesterday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hairpiece tied back, black leather armor covering his body, skin slightly darkened, eyebrows slightly raised to make his face look fiercer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The makeup artist was about to glue on a beard when someone stopped him—it was Wang Xiu, the one Yu Yanli wanted to avoid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xiu glanced at Yu Yanli in the mirror, tapped his chin lightly, and spoke to the makeup artist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think leaving off the beard is better—youthful, raw intensity is what matters; a beard makes him seem too composed, which contradicts the character.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yanli studied his reflection in the mirror, comparing it to yesterday’s look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, Wang Xiu really knew his stuff!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the beard, Yu Yanli looked sharp, efficient, brave, and decisive—a man of substance, like Qin Qiong: courageous and clever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without the beard, the cunning, composed aura faded, leaving only raw strength and hardness—more like a fierce, unyielding general.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having read the script, Yu Yanli knew exactly what kind of character Yuwen Chengdu was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arrogant, clueless, relying solely on brute force—Wang Xiu’s suggestion was spot-on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yanli began to view Wang Xiu with new respect; regardless of other things, he always respected those with real ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Wang Xiu’s help, Yu Yanli completed his final look successfully—and it looked great.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they were about to remove the makeup, another makeup artist got a phone call, so Wang Xiu came over to help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Handsome, I feel like you’re a bit afraid of me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yanli felt awkward; Wang Xiu chuckled teasingly, and Yu Yanli nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xiu froze—he hadn’t expected such a direct admission. After a few seconds, he recovered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know why.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...How did you know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xiu was genuinely curious. He’d noticed Yu Yanli’s subtle avoidance before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In today’s mainland climate, many straight men, upon learning his situation, felt some discomfort—even outright hostility. Yu Yanli was actually polite; he’d seen people glare or even scream at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what he truly couldn’t understand was: how had Yu Yanli figured it out?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xiu believed his demeanor was normal enough—just a bit refined. They’d met twice, exchanged no odd words, this was their first collaboration, he had few acquaintances here, and no close colleagues had slipped up—so how had he been exposed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I once met someone with similar speech and mannerisms. My intuition’s usually accurate, so…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yanli, of course, didn’t reveal the truth—he gave a vague excuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xiu didn’t fully believe him, but didn’t press further; he clapped his hands cheerfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’re uncomfortable, let Sister Liu do your makeup later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His straightforwardness made Yu Yanli feel guilty: “Uh… you do it. I didn’t mean anything—I’m young, inexperienced, maybe I overthought it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No problem, I understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Xiu, used to such reactions, simply patted Yu Yanli’s solid shoulder and smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Handsome guys are always noticed, but don’t worry—I’ve got someone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yanli bowed slightly: “Then I’m the one who made a fool of myself—I apologize.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t be so formal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the matter cleared, their atmosphere grew naturally warmer; Wang Xiu even offered suggestions on Yu Yanli’s appearance and physique, which greatly helped him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he left the makeup room, dusk had fallen. Yu Yanli thought for a moment, then walked to the barbecue shop he’d seen in his morning intelligence report.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With little money, he bought some must-try fatty lamb kidneys and lamb skewers to test the quality, plus a fried pancake, then returned to the hotel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tasted the barbecue first—yes, it was delicious: the kidneys were charred, fatty, tender; the lamb skewers fragrant and savory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two cold beers would’ve made it perfect, but tonight he still had lines to memorize—priority number one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After quickly cleaning up dinner, Yu Yanli resumed memorizing the script. Near nine o’clock, his phone rang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yanli answered: “Hello, Jiacuan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Li, how’s your role going?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice on the other end belonged to Lin Jiacuan, Yu Yanli’s college classmate and dorm roommate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Solid. Just finalized my look today—I’m filming tomorrow or the day after.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s great!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Excited shouts from Lin Jiacuan and others echoed through the phone; Yu Yanli smiled and lay back on his bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are Songwen and Yiwei there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief pause, another deep voice spoke: “Old Yan, it’s Songwen. Keep filming hard in Hengdian—we’re all waiting to celebrate when you get back to Beijing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last roommate, Zhou Yiwei, grabbed the phone: “Brother Li, do you need anything? We can mail it to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t need anything. The assistant director’s been really kind—I’ve got my own room in the crew’s quarters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing his brothers’ concern, Yu Yanli’s heart warmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jiacuan, Zhang Songwen, and Zhou Yiwei were not only classmates from the 2000 cohort of the Beijing Film Academy’s Vocational Acting Program, but also his dorm mates—and his best friends during his two years in Beijing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They ate, lived, studied, played, chased roles, and supported each other, forging deep bonds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that Yu Yanli had graduated and come alone to Hengdian to film, the three back in Beijing had been calling nonstop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, long-distance is expensive—let’s end it here. I’ll call you again in a couple days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In 2002, inter-province long-distance calls cost over a yuan per minute, and both calling and receiving were charged—even with roaming services, it was still pricey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guys had just graduated; their careers had barely begun, their incomes minimal—they couldn’t afford to waste money on long calls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he was about to hang up, Zhou Yiwei suddenly interrupted, hesitated, then blurted out:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Li, I ran into Sister Xuan on campus today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yanli’s brow twitched: “Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The “Xuan sister” mentioned by Zhou Yiwei was his ex-girlfriend, Dong Xuan, a 2000 intake undergraduate in the Acting Department at Beijing Film Academy and one of its campus beauties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t the school require us to move dorms before summer vacation? She asked if I’d rented a place, whether alone or with roommates—sounded like she was trying to find out your address.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yanli said nothing, and Lin Jiachuan, who had been listening nearby, grew anxious: “Brother Li, are you really breaking up?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She’s the one who broke up with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yanli finally added a few more words, and Zhang Songwen, the oldest and most level-headed among them, also spoke up to advise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s just a girl’s temper tantrum—soothe her a bit and it’ll be fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve tried soothing her, but she won’t respond. I won’t coddle her bad temper.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yanli let out a light snort; the roommates on the other end exchanged glances, and the youngest, Zhou Yiwei, spoke up with fairness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You can’t blame Sister Xuan—you were hanging out with that junior, Huang Shengyi…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cough cough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yanli coughed to cut off Zhou Yiwei: “We didn’t do anything—just an upperclassman giving advice to a junior. Don’t smear my reputation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, the roommates said no more; after all, it was Yu Yanli’s own personal matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1824,"2026-06-19T16:16:52.605Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","4f77e9fe5e07474eb46c9eb8c0c5f1fe32838f8ea8558dbad7fb4c50a356e2f3","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-6","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-4",405,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-cover.jpg"]