Chapter 136: Fang Gouzi (Begging for Monthly Tickets, Begging for Rewards)

In the evening the crew served dinner, and Liu Tianxian and Fang Hong squatted in one spot, eating boxed meals together.

Before, she never kept him company; she ate alone.

The rest of the crew also sat in little clusters of three or five, chatting and gossiping.

"Your food's gotten better!" Liu Tianxian took a pair of disposable chopsticks.

The boxed meals used to look rather plain; now they were much more generous.

"Now that I've got the means, of course I should let everyone who works for me eat well, get a steady paycheck, and hopefully all be able to buy a home someday," Fang Hong said.

"I can't finish this; I'll share a bit with you."

Liu Tianxian scooped over a small portion of her boxed meal: "You're pretty noble—didn't used to see that in you."

"Before I had no money, so naturally I couldn't be noble. Now I've got a little, and I can improve some people's conditions, so I'm trying to. It's called letting the rich lead the way for the rest," Fang Hong said between bites.

"You're so contradictory," Liu Tianxian said with a smile.

From the very beginning freeloading, to half-freeloading, to showing the face of capital and making people do all kinds of 996, working themselves to the bone for exploitation.

And now to paying full wages, raising benefits, lowering equipment rental costs, not raising actors' pay, and putting the money into the behind-the-scenes crew.

She could hardly read this guy—was he a vicious capitalist, or a man with compassion?

"I'm not contradictory at all. Fundamentally I've always been the same: when I had no ability, I looked after myself first; when I have ability, I look after others too," Fang Hong said.

"That's not bad, pretty noble."

Liu Tianxian praised him, then added: "If your heart were a little kinder, you'd be just about perfect—a pretty flawless person."

"You think it'd be better if I were perfect?" Fang Hong said.

"Of course I'd want you to be a little more perfect, to keep a kind heart," Liu Tianxian said.

"Perfect people aren't real. A person should have flaws. Of course, I'm willing to fix the flaws I have, for you," Fang Hong said, looking at her.

Things were going fine, and then suddenly a line of sweet talk.

Liu Tianxian leaned sideways and bumped him: "There are so many people around—don't be so mushy, okay?"

The crew was big, and people kept glancing their way.

"What are you looking at? Eat your food. No sneaking looks, no spreading gossip—you've all signed NDAs; spreading things makes you legally liable," Lu Dabo scolded a few extras, keeping order.

The extras lowered their heads and ate seriously.

The crew had started enforcing rules now: crew gossip couldn't be spread outside; if it was, you wouldn't be hired a second time, and in serious cases, you'd be sued.

Although Fang Hong had a compassionate heart, he still believed human nature was greedy.

"Here, let me feed you."

Fang Hong picked up a piece of shrimp and held it to Liu Tianxian's lips.

"Can you just eat properly? I told you not to be mushy."

Liu Tianxian was helpless—he had zero sense of occasion.

If the two of them were alone it would be one thing.

"See, that's not generous of you. Be more generous—who cares what others think?" Fang Hong said.

Liu Tianxian glanced at him, but still ate it.

"That's more like it!" Fang Hong was very pleased.

Liu Tianxian couldn't be bothered with him! "Do you think anyone's secretly cursing us as a shameless couple?" Fang Hong tilted his head, teasing her.

"Leave me out of it, you Fang Gouzi."

"."

At night, the crew rented a high-end clubhouse.

The scene to be filmed here was the classic moment where "Young Master Zhao" humiliates a female star, played for the cop portrayed by Zhang Songwen.

Of course Liu Tianxian also appeared—she played the female star.

The crew's equipment was already set up, and the set dressing was in place.

Fang Hong ran the scene for Liu Tianxian: "The female star you play has to be proud, that icy, untouchable vibe. When I humiliate you, it should feel like being dragged down from the clouds—that contrast is what we want."

"Got it, I'll remember."

Liu Tianxian pictured the state—it wasn't hard for her; she just had to play herself, since she was pretty aloof in daily life anyway.

"Also, I'm going to smear cake on your face and stuff ice down your chest. You okay with that?" Fang Hong glanced at her chest.

"I'm fine, go ahead," Liu Tianxian could accept it.

The point was to subvert expectations, so the audience wouldn't treat her as a celestial fairy—she was an actress.

In the previous life's domestic version it wasn't like this; they just scared the cop a bit, then squirted water guns at the female star. Here they were still respecting the South Korea version.

That was what gave it visual impact! Once everything was ready, Liu Tianxian changed into an outfit—a bit more glamorous, with the flair of an evening gown.

The neckline had a slight V, just a small dip—this was to make it easy for Fang Hong to pull her collar open and stuff ice inside.

Also, she wore no makeup on her face, bare-faced.

Later her face would be covered in cake; if she had makeup on, it would all clump together.

Fang Hong watched Liu Tianxian finish changing, sized her up, focusing on the prominent areas—seemed like they'd gotten a little bigger.

"It's going to be a bit cold later, so put some on your chest, and wear something thicker if you can."

"I know," Liu Tianxian said.

"Let's run through it first."

Saying that, Fang Hong went to pull at her collar, trying to peek inside, behaving like a rich second-generation heir in the movies.

Liu Tianxian reacted fast, covering her chest and stepping back: "What are you peeking at?"

"Just a rehearsal so you're used to it, so you won't be caught off guard later," Fang Hong said with a perfectly straight face. "Get lost and drop dead, you Fang Gouzi," Liu Tianxian cursed.

Fang Hong shut up—his good intentions taken for a donkey's liver and lungs!

Liu Tianxian saw him gloomy, leaned close: "What, angry?"

"No, how would I dare?" Fang Hong said coolly.

"Alright, alright, just joking, don't be mad."

Liu Tianxian patted his head; Fang Hong slapped her hand away—the motion was like stroking a dog.

"Hahaha!"

Liu Tianxian laughed until her gums showed, her laughter echoing for miles.

They knew each other too well; only Liu Tianxian dared be so unrestrained.

Others still feared Fang Hong, and no longer dared to overstep boundaries or crack jokes the way they had when first starting the business together.

Just because Fang Hong had distanced himself from them.

The crew members were also quite gossipy.

"Are they back together? Last time they wouldn't even speak to each other."

"Little lovers break up and make up—it's normal."

"You think that guy in Liu Tianxian's earlier scandal was the Principal?"

"Of course—he's clearly the one, judging by how they act."

"."

Li Anran, Liu Yin, and Wen Muye sat together gossiping; Guo Fan, unaware of the situation, listened in secretly.

But he now understood why the Principal had insisted on replacing Liu Sisi—this relationship made it perfectly normal.

Lu Dabo didn't dare get close to scold them; they were core members.

As for the earlier scandal, it was suppressed within days—Yutu's PR was still very effective.

As long as you spend money, major media and internet platforms are happy to oblige.

Few internet companies today are profitable; Alibaba only starts making money next year, most are still losing money.

So when someone pays, things get done easily—this world runs on money.

Soon the crew was ready, and filming began.

Inside a luxury private room, a group of female stars and billionaires were holding a party.

Two shirtless, muscular men were competing in push-ups, while the crowd around them yelled "Wah-wah-wah!" in encouragement.

Fang Hong, playing Young Master Zhao, one arm around Liu Tianxian, who played the female star, the other holding a cigar, joined in the cheering.

The scene was opulent, wildly open.

When Zhang Songwen, playing the police officer, arrived, he saw this scene—almost shattered his worldview.

What shattered it further was that when Fang Hong saw one of the muscular men about to lose, he lit a cigarette and pressed it against the man's body, sparks flying everywhere, utterly indifferent to the man's pain.

The sparks were just Best Special Effects—they couldn't possibly burn anyone.

This left Zhang Songwen stunned.

Liu Tianxian maintained her cold, aloof demeanor, her expression lifeless.

Soon everyone sat down; someone introduced Zhang Songwen's identity. Fang Hong's face hardened, and he quietly wiped the powder off the table.

He even sniffed his nose—clearly a scumbag.

"Anyone who comes here is a guest—help yourselves to some wine," Fang Hong remained polite.

Zhang Songwen took a sip of wine and joked: "I thought rich second-generation kids like you would play something more original."

Fang Hong looked surprised, grabbed ice cubes from the bucket, yanked open Liu Tianxian's collar, and shoved several handfuls inside.

"Ah!"

Liu Tianxian screamed, looking utterly flustered.

The ice slid down her chest to her stomach, freezing her so badly she quickly pulled her clothes open to remove them.

These were all genuine reactions.

But before she could react, Fang Hong grabbed another handful of cake and smeared it all over her face—pure humiliation.

"That's enough!" Liu Tianxian couldn't take it anymore.

Whether it was acting or a real reaction, Guo Fan, the cameraman, didn't yell "Cut!" Fang Hong, of course, kept acting—he picked up a banana and forcefully shoved it into Liu Tianxian's mouth, covering her face and lips in it.

Arrogant beyond measure—he portrayed the spoiled, reckless face of a rich second-generation heir perfectly.

Zhang Songwen stared, speechless.

"Sorry, rich second-generation kids only know how to play like this," Fang Hong challenged Zhang Songwen.

Zhang Songwen smiled and warned: "Young Master Zhao, you can do anything—but don't you dare commit a crime!"

"Hahaha!" Fang Hong laughed freely, raised a glass: "Come on, let's drink."

"."

This differs greatly from the original version—where the original only served to highlight Young Master Zhao's arrogance, the police were portrayed as weak.

Here, the "police" is elevated—the two are evenly matched, making it far more compelling.

The original version had a toast scene: Young Master Zhao toasts the police officer, who refuses to drink due to regulations, emphasizing his moral righteousness.

That clearly detached itself from the masses.

Here, there's no such scene—instead, they drink; from initial shock to the later warning, the progression is excellent.

(End of Chapter)