035 Joining the Cast of "Conquest," I Truly Am Impressive

In the bedroom at Jimenli, Dong Xuan slept soundly, curled up against Yan Li. With Yan Li about to leave for Shijiazhuang to film, she had been exceptionally affectionate lately, unable to bear the thought of being apart. However, her stamina was poor; she would be exhausted after every bout and fall asleep instantly.

Yan Li felt quite energetic; that level of activity hardly wore him out. Moreover, his mind was preoccupied, eager to see the intelligence report updated at midnight before drifting off. After playing on his phone for a while and smoking two cigarettes, the time finally arrived, and Yan Li opened the system.

[Daily Intelligence ①: The sexual orientation of the boss of Gem Pictures, Shi X, is unconventional...]

He had already guessed as much, but with the system confirming it now, it was set in stone. When Yan Li first met the makeup artist Wang Xiu on the set of *The Legend of Sui and Tang Heroes*, he had claimed he could tell Wang’s situation because he had met others like him—a cover story to protect the existence of the system. But after spending more time with Wang, Yan Li could truly pick up on the subtle details. Whenever he recalled the meaningful look the man had given him while handing over his business card, Yan Li felt a wave of nausea. He held no judgment toward such people and could still treat Wang as a friend, provided they didn’t set their sights on him.

Yan Li knew that without power or connections, one often had to make sacrifices to climb the ladder. He was mentally prepared for that, but it didn't mean he would compromise everything. Some things could be tolerated, but others were simply non-negotiable. Even if he didn't have the system as his trump card, he would rather return to his hometown to be a chef than cross his own bottom line.

[Daily Intelligence ②: Tong Dawei and Shi X have an excellent relationship... Shi X intends to gift him a Cherokee worth over 800,000 RMB...]

Seeing this, Yan Li understood Tong Dawei a little better. It was a pity, but Yan Li simply couldn't stomach that kind of thing. If it were a wealthy woman—provided she wasn't particularly ugly—throwing such resources and money at him, he might struggle to hold his ground. Eight hundred thousand RMB! His family’s restaurant hadn't made that much money in over a decade. Yan Li let out a long breath, forcing himself to calm down. It was just a Cherokee; he had the system, and once he started making money, he could buy a BMW X5 worth over a million...

[Daily Intelligence ③: ...Shi X is suspected of financial fraud, with the amount involved reaching over ten billion. Relevant authorities... have established a joint task force and have currently placed Shi X under residential surveillance...]

"Damn!" Yan Li was stunned when he saw this. Although he had politely declined Shi’s advances, he had still considered him a well-known tycoon in the industry. How did it come to this? It looked like he was about to go down. The details in the report regarding the various agencies involved made Yan Li’s heart race.

If these charges were proven, even if Shi escaped the death penalty, he would likely never see the light of day again. Perhaps because Shi was such a heavyweight, almost all the intelligence triggered today was related to him. Yan Li saw his acquaintance Huang Xiaoming mentioned again; as a young actor heavily promoted by Boss Shi, his senior was also... enduring humiliation for the sake of his career. And then there was Qin Lan—if he hadn't intervened, who knows what would have happened between her and Huang Xiaoming? He would have to make sure she thanked him later.

Having witnessed the darkness and cruelty of society and the industry, Yan Li felt a significant impact and couldn't help but light another cigarette to settle his nerves. The affair with Boss Shi had taught him a lesson. It further solidified his resolve: stay steady in all things, avoid skirting the edge of trouble, and never cross the line.

...

In mid-August, *Conquest* began filming, and Yan Li and Zhou Yiwei set off for Shijiazhuang. A reluctant Dong Xuan dragged Guan Yue to the station to see them off, but Tong Dawei did not come. Since that day, the guy hadn't reached out to Yan Li at all, likely sensing that Yan Li had figured something out and feeling too embarrassed to face him. Yan Li was happy for the relief; setting aside Boss Shi, he had a decent impression of Tong. With his connection to Dong and Guan, they might have become friends, and Yan Li wouldn't have known whether he should warn him to cut ties with Shi. Saying nothing felt disloyal, but speaking up was awkward and invited trouble. Tong avoiding him had unintentionally saved Yan Li from a dilemma. He decided to let things settle for now.

After bidding farewell to Dong Xuan, Yan Li and Zhou Yiwei boarded the bus to Shijiazhuang. It was the provincial capital of Hebei, not far from Beijing—about a four-hour trip. They took a taxi to the hotel where the *Conquest* crew was staying, reported to Director Gao Qunshu, and received their room keys from the production manager. The room was slightly better than the one he’d had at Hengdian—at least it had a bulky television and a shower. But without Wang Decai’s help this time, Yan Li didn't get a private room. However, his roommate was Zhou Yiwei, with whom he had shared a dorm for two years in college, so they were used to it.

Just as Yan Li was unpacking and discussing with Zhou about going out to pick up some daily necessities, an assistant director knocked on the door, ordering him to go for a costume fitting immediately.

"Is it that urgent?" Usually, unless it was a cameo or some special circumstance, actors were given time to settle in. Especially for a supporting role like his, there was no need to rush.

"Director Gao said every extra day is an extra expense. We need to act fast." It was clear the *Conquest* crew was not wealthy; they were terrified of going over budget, so the schedule was tight. Yan Li sighed—he couldn't drag his feet if they were in a hurry.

On the way to the makeup room, Yan Li pondered whether he should hire an assistant. When an actor was working on set, they were often pulled in many directions, and having someone to run errands was very convenient. This was why it had become popular for established artists to have one or two assistants. However, his work and income weren't stable enough yet, and supporting an assistant would be a burden. Moreover, he needed someone he could trust. He made a mental note to look for one slowly.

The costume fitting for *Conquest* was simpler than he expected. Being an urban crime drama, there wasn't much need for elaborate styling. The wardrobe consisted mostly of shirts and dress pants, aiming for a business look. To reflect the character Wu Tian’s wealth, he was given an all-gold Rolex to wear on his left wrist. Given the crew’s budget and the makeup artist’s indifferent attitude, it was almost certainly a knockoff from a local market.

Yan Li was tall with long legs, a broad back, and a narrow waist—a natural clothes hanger. A simple black shirt and trousers looked tailored and sharp on him. As he sat with his legs crossed, he exuded charisma. The two young girls in the makeup room were visibly smitten.

The lead makeup artist, a more experienced woman, kept her composure. She stepped back, looked him over, and then stepped forward to unbutton the top two buttons of his shirt, creating a V-neck that exposed his neck and chest. It instantly added a touch of sexiness and wildness. The lead