Chapter 129: Cultivating Flowers Is Like Loving a Lover (Special Bonus for Alliance Father Figures—Requesting Monthly Tickets and Rew

The two of them spent a week together amid laughter and chatter.

Fang Hong was balancing love and career equally.

Every day that week followed the same pattern: work in the morning, flirt with Liu Tianxian in the afternoon; as he put it, he had been working hard for seven years.

Recently, Beijing Meets Seattle had been released.

It broke 10.11 million on its first day and 14.38 million on its second—modest box office performance.

But this film won on word-of-mouth; as always, if you nail the target audience, box office will rise.

This film was made for women, specifically for career women and white-collar workers—not for netizens.

What topics do white-collar women care about? Nothing but sperm donation, giving birth in the United States, mistresses, extramarital affairs, homosexuality—social issues.

And they also enjoy gossiping about these topics.

Moreover, the film's dialogue struck at the loneliness, emptiness, and coldness in women's hearts, fueling fantasies of tender love.

"He may never take me on a yacht for French cuisine, but he can run across several streets every morning to buy me my favorite soy milk and fried dough sticks."

"Love isn't dependence. Love is two independent, strong individuals striving to come together. I must work hard to become strong, so I have the right to welcome love that descends from the heavens at any moment."

"The right person will eventually appear; the wonderful person will eventually appear—as long as you make yourself good enough. Strive to be independent and strong, so you have the confidence to tell the one you love: I love you."

"The proof of two people loving each other is that, no matter where they are, they are always in each other's eyes. As long as we live inside each other's hearts, even death cannot separate us."

"."

Listen to these lines—how beautifully written, how perfectly aligned with the mindset of modern independent women.

I bet Liu Tianxian loves this too. If I said these lines to her in the right moment, would she cry and immediately want to sleep with me? I'm getting ahead of myself.

This audience segment is also rational; once word-of-mouth spreads, box office naturally rises.

So on the third day, it jumped to 26.07 million, and on the fourth day, to 26.72 million.

"Beijing Meets Seattle fulfills women viewers' emotional and psychological needs unmet in real life—autonomous selfhood, affluent living, sincere love—achieving balance between spiritual and material conflict."

This review was published by People's Daily Online.

People with high cultural literacy write articles that are a pleasure to read.

Hao Lei also broke from her usual literary goddess image in this film, embracing comedy; Zhang Songwen played a down-on-his-luck middle-aged man, refreshingly grounded.

Both delivered strong performances.

Hao Lei said on a talk show: "There's a funny thing—I asked Principal when I took this role, 'Why me?' He said I had good taste. Now it's clear I did."

She laughed "hahaha"—she's quite cheerful.

But that wasn't what really happened! Hao Lei was just praising herself—and subtly praising Fang Hong in front of the media, very clever! Zhang Songwen also said: "Actually, making this film faced some obstacles; Principal really bore tremendous pressure."

He was hinting at the censorship incident, but he couldn't say it outright—only that Principal had it hard.

Even if he said it, Huayi wouldn't admit it; they'd just call you crazy.

So he could only hint at it, to defend Yutu's honor.

The box office of Beijing Meets Seattle was rock-solid; even when it dipped, it was just a technical adjustment.

Every film he makes becomes a hit; industry capital and general managers are green with envy.

Among them, Bona's Yu Pangzi sneered: "I guess Principal started by eating off women's money—his films can only appeal to female audiences."

Meaning he makes money off women.

This instantly sparked outrage, angering women.

"Try making a film for us women and see if we watch it."

"We love Yutu's films—why don't you analyze why your own films have no audience?"

"A general manager with zero vision—no wonder your film flopped."

"Sisters, boycott Fortune Inn! It's a Bona-only investment—don't watch it, and don't let your husbands or boyfriends watch it either."

"."

Fortune Inn, directed by Wang Jin, was released simultaneously with Beijing Meets Seattle, produced by a Hong Kong team, funded solely by Bona.

Like Fang Hong, it was a solo play.

But this film was crushed by Beijing Meets Seattle—only 3.17 million on opening day, 7.91 million the next day—a flop.

But that still doesn't justify Yu Pangzi's sarcasm.

Fang Hong checked the films Bona planned to release.

Shanghai and From Vegas to Macau—Fa Ge was practically Bona's own son!

This was a direct attack, and the power behind it was substantial; Fa Ge was big enough to involve many film companies, all eager to profit from his fame.

In response to Yu Pangzi's sarcasm, Yutu's spokesperson said only one thing: "A fool's self-torment!"

Meaning Yu Pangzi had no talent and was just making noise.

Industry insiders were watching the show; Yutu was making more enemies, now alienating both ends of the film industry.

Fang Hong didn't care—he could fight if needed; in a war of attrition, who was afraid of whom?

He had his own system and talent pipeline, plus the "blood station"—he feared no one!

That day, Fang Hong was about to visit Liu Tianxian when Wang Zhangtian, the General Manager of Guang County, called to request a meeting. Fang Hong refused—he had nothing to discuss; he didn't lack investment. Though Wang Zhangtian could offer promotion channels, China Film Group was enough—he didn't need anyone else.

China Film Group wasn't even enough to feed itself—why share with others?

But the man said it was about Liu Tianxian—Fang Hong hesitated, then agreed to meet that evening.

When Fang Hong arrived at Liu Tianxian's villa, he saw Liu Xiaoli and Liu Tianxian mother and daughter watering flowers in the garden.

This was very inconvenient—it ruined his chance to flirt with Liu Tianxian.

Fang Hong walked over to the colorful flowers and greeted naturally: "Hello, Auntie Liu!"

Liu Xiaoli turned, saw him again, and gave a slight nod: "Hello."

Fang Hong winked at Liu Tianxian.

Liu Tianxian looked up at the sky with an expression that said she didn't know him, and she looked rather cute doing it.

"Auntie, let me help you with that!" Fang Hong reached out to take the watering can.

"Watering flowers isn't something you just do casually—there are tricks to it. You should stop trying to show off." Liu Xiaoli pushed him away.

"As the saying goes, it takes ten years to learn to raise flowers, but you can kill them in a minute. Raising flowers is like loving a person—it needs careful nurturing, gentle companionship. Only with a sincere heart can the flowers bloom for you."

Fang Hong rattled it off as if he'd rehearsed it, sounding perfectly reasonable, insisting on taking the watering can from Liu Xiaoli's hands to do it himself.

It's just watering flowers—what tricks could it possibly need? Liu Tianxian, listening from the side, couldn't stop laughing either.

She had no idea where this guy had picked up so many grand principles, but they did sound pleasant to the ear.

Liu Xiaoli was helpless—this person was far too enthusiastic.

But she didn't mind; she just felt there was something hidden in his words. Even a fool could tell he was saying it for the two of them, mother and daughter. His scheming ran deep.

She countered, "What you say makes sense, but the heart is hidden behind the belly."

"Time reveals a person's heart!" Fang Hong rebutted in one line.

Liu Xiaoli glanced at her daughter—she hadn't noticed before that this man's tongue was so sharp.

"Everyone in this world shouts about treating others sincerely, yet everyone is hypocritical. Time doesn't necessarily reveal a true heart—otherwise, why would all those people who once vowed to grow old together end up divorced?"

"That's something you should ask a relationship Expert about. I don't understand it. I only understand how I should treat people sincerely." Fang Hong said it with Tandang.

Liu Xiaoli laughed. It seemed anyone who could build something from nothing was no simple matter.

This time Fang Hong had made his intentions and attitude clear, and in their first exchange Liu Xiaoli had conceded the round.

But she had the advantage of status, so no matter what, Fang Hong had to treat her with courtesy.

Liu Tianxian secretly gave Fang Hong a thumbs-up. Impressive—he could make her mother lose face. Her mother was very shrewd and eloquent.

Otherwise she wouldn't have been able to protect her for so long.

After watering the flowers, the three of them walked side by side across the soft grass, Liu Xiaoli in the middle, and asked, "Xiao Fang, how many people are in your family?"

"Two—just me and my mom." Fang Hong said.

"Oh!"

Liu Xiaoli understood—this was a single-parent family. "What happened with your father?"

"His father is no longer here." Liu Tianxian said from the side.

"I see, then your mother must have had it pretty tough." Liu Xiaoli was empathizing now.

But Fang Hong's situation was a case of force majeure, while hers was divorce—there was still a difference.

"Yes, I respect her greatly." Fang Hong said.

"Then you must be very obedient to your mother." Liu Xiaoli said.

"Depends on the situation. If she's right, I listen; if she's wrong, I don't."

"For example?"

"My mom is the kind of very ordinary rural woman, with fairly traditional thinking. She's not used to the way of life in the city. I hope she can let go of some of her ideas and accept a new way of living." Fang Hong put it very tactfully.

Liu Xiaoli didn't quite follow. She couldn't imagine the mindset of a rural woman, nor could she understand why one would need to change their way of life. She hadn't experienced it herself—anyone who could go to the United States was no ordinary person.

Fang Hong didn't say more. Liu Tianxian knew the situation, so she would naturally explain it to her mother.

He didn't hide the fact of his humble origins either. What was impressive was himself, not some background.

Liu Xiaoli asked about his family situation and basically understood what kind of person he was.

In short, his family was too ordinary! As for the man himself, he wasn't bad—at least when pursuing her daughter, he could treat her without being servile or overbearing, with an even heart. That really was rare.

The people who had previously wanted to pursue her daughter, to get close to her daughter, either feared her or did their best to avoid her, always trying to lure her daughter away alone into some dark corner.

Although she had heard a little about Fang Hong's past deeds, the entertainment circle had never had many decent men and women to begin with.

When she had been protecting her daughter back then, she had run into plenty of open attacks and hidden arrows.

In this respect, Liu Xiaoli was more open-minded than Liu Tianxian.

The three chatted for a while. Liu Xiaoli didn't say anything else, just asked about his family situation.

It wasn't yet time to play the villain and break them up—she still needed to observe. Besides, her daughter wasn't a child anymore and knew the basics of reading people.

(End of chapter)