Yan Donglin

Biodata

Background

Yan Donglin is the youngest son of Yan Guangchuan and Madam Yan, the younger brother of Yan Yuheng, and Wenren Yan’s maternal uncle. Despite being only ten years older than his nephew, he is treated by the family as the unreliable elder who repeatedly causes trouble for himself. 1 6

Before Immortal-Demon Duel, Yan Donglin lost money on a film after its lead actor’s extramarital-affair scandal triggered a boycott. He insists that the loss was not solely his fault and views the new drama as his chance to redeem himself. 2

As Canghai Media’s CEO, he secured international star Ao Qingyuan as the drama’s male lead for a salary of 112.2 million. He defended the expense with market data, Ao’s global popularity, and the planned sale of overseas rights after filming. 2

Personality

Yan Donglin is bold, opportunistic, and highly expressive. He gets Wenren Yan drunk and has him sign an acting contract in an attempt to force a 100-million investment into Immortal-Demon Duel, then tries to frame the scheme as a matter of “contractual integrity.” 1

His confidence often collapses when his plans backfire. After Wenren Yan insists on fulfilling the contract, Yan Donglin panics over the prospect of family backlash, the production’s costs, and the 100-million breach-of-contract penalty he cannot afford. 5

He is impulsive and superstitious, blaming the May 15 filming date because it sounds like “I want to cry,” despite having personally selected it through an eminent monk. He later hires a monk to perform rites on the first day of filming, hoping to counter Wenren Yan’s supposedly clashing feng shui. 5 6

Despite his recklessness, Yan Donglin is protective of Wenren Yan. He repeatedly tries to discourage him from acting, worries about the trustworthiness of personnel around him, assigns Canghai Media agent Zhou Ke to accompany him, and personally drives him to the set. 10

Story Role

• Tricking Wenren Yan into acting — At Wenren Yan’s welcome-back banquet, Yan Donglin gets him drunk and obtains his signature on a contract to play the second male lead in Immortal-Demon Duel. He originally intends to use the contract to obtain a 100-million investment. 1
• Pitching the drama — He promotes Ao Qingyuan’s popularity, market value, and 112.2-million salary in an effort to convince Wenren Yan that the project will be profitable. 2
• The contract backfires — Wenren Yan chooses to honor the contract rather than cancel it, demands to keep his face hidden during filming, and points out that Yan Donglin would owe 100 million to terminate the agreement. 5
• Preparing Supreme One’s disguise — Forced to accommodate Wenren Yan’s demand, Yan Donglin orders the props department to make a crown and mask that conceal the actor’s face throughout the production. 6
• Funding and launching production — Wenren Yan ultimately transfers 80 million into Canghai Media for the drama, while Yan Donglin pays him 2 million for three months with the crew and oversees his entry into the cast. 6 10
• Wrap party appearance — Yan Donglin attends the wrap party as the drama’s investor and producer, distributes wrap bonuses, and teases Wenren Yan about being a “little actor who came in through the back door.” 17

Relationships

• Wenren Yan — Nephew. Yan Donglin tricks him into signing an acting contract, but Wenren Yan turns the contract against him; their relationship remains combative but familial. 1 5 6
• Yan Guangchuan — Father. Yan Guangchuan harshly criticizes Yan Donglin’s dishonest attempt to obtain investment and doubts his fitness to inherit Guangchuan Group. 5 6
• Madam Yan — Mother. Yan Donglin instinctively seeks her protection when his father becomes angry; she considers him scatterbrained but shields him from harsher punishment. 6
• Yan Yuheng — Older sister and Wenren Yan’s mother. She recognizes that Yan Donglin keeps provoking Wenren Yan despite repeatedly losing to him. 6
• Wenren Jing — Brother-in-law. Wenren Jing rebukes Yan Donglin for speaking disrespectfully to Yan Guangchuan. 6
• Ao Qingyuan — Male lead of Immortal-Demon Duel. Yan Donglin considers signing Ao Qingyuan the central strength of the production and pays him 112.2 million. 2
• Zhou Ke — Canghai Media’s top-tier agent. Yan Donglin assigns Zhou Ke to accompany and protect Wenren Yan during filming. 10

Trivia

• Yan Donglin is thirty-two years old. 10
• He considers himself to have lost 102 million through his scheme: the failed 100-million investment attempt plus Wenren Yan’s 2-million acting fee. 6
• He selected the May 15 filming date through religious consultation, then angrily condemned it as unlucky when his plans began falling apart. 5
• His company slogan is: “Only bold imagination can change the world.” 1