Chapter 130: Trampling on Yourself (Thank You to All Alliance Masters and Godfathers)

Liu Xiaoli drove off in a Ferrari to buy groceries, leaving the two of them alone at home.

Before, she used to drive a Porsche, but since Fang Hong took over the Porsche, she had no choice but to reluctantly drive the Ferrari.

The two found a shady spot; Liu Tianxian was feeding the cat, afternoon sunlight bathing her in a hazy beauty.

Fang Hong sat on a small stool, seizing the time to read the script of "Big Shot"—the film was about to start shooting, and though he spent his days chasing women, he couldn't keep slacking off forever.

His motto was: A man must prioritize his career! Though the role suited his natural persona, he still needed to memorize a few lines—otherwise, he'd forget them constantly and ruin the shoot, wasting time.

Liu Tianxian bent backward, tucking her hair behind her ear, and leaned close: "What are you reading?"

"The script. Here, take a look, so you won't say I didn't give you a role—it's a men's film, no female lead." Fang Hong handed it over.

"Am I really that petty? If you don't give me a role, I'm supposed to sulk?" Liu Tianxian lightly tapped the back of his head.

She hoped their relationship was free of any ulterior motives—good whether or not there was benefit involved.

This was the dynamic she truly wanted.

If benefit was mixed in, then giving resources meant it was good, and withholding them meant it was bad—that kind of relationship became a bond of transaction.

"No, I'm just explaining to you!" Fang Hong said.

"No need to explain. I understand."

Liu Tianxian took the script and read it, crouching beside him: "Are you acting in this film?"

"I play the male supporting role—the villain!" Fang Hong pointed to the character description.

"Young Master Zhao—who came up with that name? Just from the name, you can tell the character's background: a powerful, wealthy second-generation heir." Liu Tianxian instantly grasped the character's essence.

"I named him!" Fang Hong said.

Liu Tianxian glanced at him, then at the character description: "This role really suits you—you're both villains."

"Just talk about the character! Why drag me into it? Am I really that bad?" Fang Hong was speechless.

"Don't take it personally—I was just joking."

Liu Tianxian soothed him, but inside she still thought he was quite wicked: "Actually, I'd like to play a villain—really evil."

"You'd better not. Your face just doesn't look like a villain's." Fang Hong said.

"Superficial!"

Liu Tianxian scolded him: "You're just like those people—you always think because I have this face, I can't do this or that, always trying to lock me into a fixed type. Doesn't having this face mean I can't challenge myself?"

This topic circled back to their earlier argument about tearing off labels and abandoning personas.

Fang Hong fell silent, letting her have her way—as long as she didn't let anyone kiss or undress her, playing a villain was fine—even a twisted woman.

"What's wrong? Aren't you usually so talkative? Didn't you used to spout that 'Above Immortal' nonsense? Why don't you use your own theory to argue with me now?" Liu Tianxian put on a haughty air.

"Look at you—I said one thing, and you hit me with ten sentences in return." Fang Hong said.

Liu Tianxian smiled: "Then let me ask you—are you attracted to my face, or to my inner self?"

"Both." Fang Hong didn't hesitate—children make choices.

"No, you have to pick just one!" Liu Tianxian held up one finger.

"How can I pick? You're a whole person—without your inner self, you're not you; without your outer self, you're not you either. If neither is you, how am I supposed to choose?"

Fang Hong's reasoning made Liu Tianxian pause.

It actually made sense—without either inner or outer self, she wouldn't be herself, just an incomplete version.

"So you mean if I lost one part, you'd abandon me?" Liu Tianxian asked like a little girl.

"If I lost one part, we'd go find it back. Talking about abandonment is irresponsible toward love." Fang Hong spoke seriously.

Liu Tianxian was finally satisfied and dropped the matter.

She'd just brought it up out of idle chatter, never intending to dig deeper—it wasn't realistic anyway.

Fang Hong also sighed in relief, fearing she'd ask him, "If I and your mom fall into the river, who do you save first?" "I notice your script follows the old Hong Kong crime-thriller formula—police vs. gangsters. Can you make it fresh?" Liu Tianxian shifted back to the script.

Nowadays, Hong Kong crime films weren't popular—the market performance was poor.

"No novelty at all. To be blunt, these movies are thrillers—making films is hard, but also simple: just evoke emotion in the audience. Thrill is an emotion—if you make them feel thrilled, they'll happily pay for tickets."

"Some directors pile on flashy visuals, cram in deep messages, can't even tell a coherent story, let alone deliver thrills or pacing—they don't even know what the audience wants to see."

Fang Hong's argument, though shallow, revealed the truth that film is a commodity.

You say you make art films for awards, for lofty ideals—but ultimately, it's still about money. Without money, nothing gets done.

You chase art, but the screenwriters and crew behind you don't—they need to eat too! Liu Tianxian nodded, saying nothing—she too wanted to make a box-office hit, because high box office meant audience approval.

Once the audience approved, then worry about awards.

Of course, the ideal state for her was a dual smash—critical acclaim and box-office success—while tearing off labels and transforming her image all at once.

"Have you found an actor for this role?" Liu Tianxian pointed to the script.

"Which one?"

Fang Hong tilted his head and saw she meant the "Female Movie Star" role: "No, it's just a cameo—few shots. We can find someone when we start shooting."

"Then don't find anyone—I'll play it." Liu Tianxian said.

Fang Hong looked at her skeptically.

The "Female Movie Star" character was not only exploited and toyed with by "Young Master Zhao," but in the end, he injected her with a lethal drug just for his own amusement!

It painted the entertainment industry's female stars in an extremely dark light—Liu Tianxian playing such a role seemed almost self-destructive.

"I think this role is brilliant—it can completely overturn my image, really great." Liu Tianxian added. "You're nuts!" Fang Hong said.

Liu Tianxian immediately got upset, flung the script at him, and stood up to leave.

He called her nuts? That dead man!

Fang Hong rushed after her, wrapping his arms around her from behind: "Let me explain."

"Let go!" Liu Tianxian struggled.

"I just think your status doesn't match this role—you're a top-tier female superstar. Playing this part is trampling on yourself." Fang Hong spoke rapidly.

"None of your business. I just like to mistreat myself." Liu Tianxian shouted.

She didn't think she was mistreating herself. She felt that although the role was a cameo with not many scenes, every appearance was a highlight.

The background was a female star, which matched her current situation perfectly — the image of being kept, being toyed with, very subversive.

And the script only had two shots: one was being humiliated by "Young Master Zhao"; the other was being injected with a poisonous needle, very testing of acting skills.

She wanted to feel that sense of being "poisoned."

"Fine, fine, if you want to act, then act." Fang Hong didn't care.

No nudity, no kissing, let her do whatever she wanted. Anyway, that "Young Master Zhao" was played by himself. If he felt unhappy, he'd slap her a couple of times in the movie to make her behave.

He suddenly wondered if Liu Tianxian had an SM tendency, liking being abused so much.

Liu Tianxian turned around, faced him, her expression serious: "Why are you calling me crazy?"

This was blaming Fang Hong for not understanding her.

Fang Hong slapped his own mouth with a "smack": "My mouth is cheap!"

"Hmph!" Liu Tianxian rolled her eyes.

Fang Hong reached out and held her, coaxing: "Such a pretty girl, getting angry doesn't look good."

"If it doesn't look good, don't look." Liu Tianxian said.

She didn't resist either, letting this man hold her.

Both of them were wearing little, both in short sleeves, both able to feel each other's warm bodies.

It's just that Fang Hong's body was harder; Liu Tianxian's body was softer.

"How could I bear not to look? Only when you are in my eyes do I have color." Fang Hong's voice was sickeningly sweet, spouting sweet nothings one after another.

After saying that, he even swayed his body twice, that coquettish look was simply unbearable.

"You're so cheesy!" Liu Tianxian pushed him.

"There's even cheesier stuff.."

Fang Hong was just about to get lovey-dovey again when his peripheral vision caught a figure, and he hurriedly let go and stepped back two steps.

He pretended to be casual, looking around left and right.

Liu Tianxian was puzzled, turned her head to look into the distance, and saw her mother's gaze fixed unkindly on this side, so she pursed her lips and smiled lightly.

"You're still afraid of her? I thought you weren't afraid." she said with a smile.

Earlier he was so fierce with her mother verbally, but in action he was so cowardly.

"That's different. Whatever I say with my mouth is just debate, but in action it's always somewhat inappropriate. We're not married and haven't done anything. Your mother would say I'm some kind of pervert or something, that wouldn't look good." Fang Hong explained.

"You were already a big pervert to begin with."

Although Liu Tianxian said this verbally, in her heart she still quite agreed with Fang Hong's words.

Her mother was also a relatively traditional person!

"I admit I'm lecherous, but I only ever lecher towards you." Fang Hong glanced over. Liu Xiaoli had already gone back inside, but her gaze was still fixed on this side.

This made him not dare to be presumptuous.

"Then I wouldn't know."

Liu Tianxian wasn't joking when she said this.

Indeed she still didn't know. The Fang Hong she understood was only what she saw before her eyes; what he did behind her back she didn't really understand.

Fang Hong also couldn't prove himself. Seeing it was about time: "I'll head off first."

Liu Tianxian nodded, and proactively saw him off.

"Oh, I just thought of something to tell you. Wang Zhangtian from Guang County invited me out, about you." Fang Hong turned around again.

"About me?" Liu Tianxian didn't understand: "Why would he look for you about me?"

"I don't know either, that's why I'm asking you what's going on." Fang Hong said.

Hearing him say this, Liu Tianxian lowered her head and thought for a moment, and roughly guessed what it was about. This matter had been discussed with her before, but was later shelved.

She thought they wouldn't look for her again, but unexpectedly they went to find Fang Hong.

"Then I'll go with you tonight!"

"Sure, I'll come pick you up later." Fang Hong decided not to eat here, mainly because Liu Xiaoli hadn't invited him.

As for the matter of Guang County, he didn't care. The current Guang County wasn't as powerful as it would later become.

Guang County's rise was after "Lost in Thailand"!

(End of this chapter)