Chapter 147: Forcing You to Stay Clean (Requesting Monthly Votes and Rewards)

For this Charity Bazaar, Fang Hong donated only 100,000 just to leave his name; if not for Liu Tianxian, he wouldn't have donated a single cent.

Many stars didn't donate at this Charity Bazaar—they just came to ride the red carpet and get exposure; no one criticized Lin Xinru or Huo Jianhua either!

All the public attention from this scandal was sucked up by the Principal and the two Wangs, so no one talked about them anymore.

After leaving Huayue Hotel, Liu Tianxian changed into ordinary clothes—no surprise, short sleeves paired with jeans, the kind with frayed hems.

She also wore a baseball cap and brown sunglasses; no one knew if she could even see clearly at this late hour.

Fang Hong changed too, but he did it quickly.

Liu Tianxian invited Zhang Jingying out, and the three sat at a noodle shop to eat.

They hadn't eaten a thing at the banquet—just drank and competed with people all night.

It was already deep night, yet the noodle shop still had customers eating.

The three sat in an interior corner; when customers passed by, they occasionally glanced over but didn't disturb them.

Though disguised, their demeanor and contours couldn't be hidden.

Liu Tianxian and Zhang Liangying sat side by side; Zhang Liangying extended her hand: "Hello, Principal."

You couldn't pretend not to know them—not after everything that happened; their names were already legendary.

"Pleasure to meet you."

Fang Hong shook her hand: "I've often listened to your songs."

"Really? That's an honor," Zhang Liangying smiled.

Liu Tianxian slurped her noodles noisily, soup dripping from her lips, her lips red, face flushed—clearly the spice had gotten to her.

She sucked in a breath of cool air and fanned herself: "His real name is Fang Hong; you can call him by his real name."

"Oh, okay!" Zhang Liangying nodded.

Fang Hong saw Liu Tianxian sweating all over her face and pulled out a few tissues to hand her.

Liu Tianxian took them and wiped her face and neck: "Liangying, are you busy lately?"

"Very busy—I started a studio with someone, and the workload's piled up," Zhang Liangying said.

She left Huayi in 2009 and then started a studio with a married man named Feng Ke.

Without a studio to rely on, if she wanted to eat, she naturally had to hustle everywhere.

As for what happened afterward—losing both money and people—Fang Hong knew, but he wouldn't elaborate.

Respect others' destinies; let go of the urge to save everyone.

Some people's life paths change but it doesn't matter—their personality stays the same. You change them once, can you change them again? If they don't truly grow, they'll always be fooled! Sometimes going through hardship isn't bad—it can make you more mature.

Liu Tianxian said nothing, just chatted casually; she never meddled in her friends' family affairs.

She watched Fang Hong finish eating: "Want another bowl?"

"No, why eat so much at night? I won't sleep," Fang Hong said.

"Don't you like spicy food? I've never seen you eat much of it," Liu Tianxian said; she'd eaten with Fang Hong many times and rarely saw him touch spicy dishes.

"I don't really like it, but I can eat it if I have to," Fang Hong said.

Zhang Jingying watched them chat like old friends, their manner easy and natural, and ventured: "How long have you two been together?"

"Over a year," Liu Tianxian didn't hide it.

Fang Hong said nothing; the fact that Liu Tianxian had brought him to meet her friends was already a deeper form of acceptance.

It was like publicly announcing it in her circle.

"I see."

Zhang Jingying understood and teased Fang Hong: "You better not bully Xixi from now on!"

"You're addressing the wrong person—you should tell her," Fang Hong pointed his chopsticks at Liu Tianxian: "She's the one who bullies me."

"Who's bullying you?"

Liu Tianxian frowned, stood up, and slapped him, glaring: "Don't point at me."

"See? See? I didn't even fight back!"

Fang Hong spread his arms wide, looking magnanimous.

Zhang Jingying smiled; the two really did have that romantic, playful dynamic.

After their meal, Zhang Jingying, who had her own car, waved goodbye to Fang Hong and Liu Tianxian and left.

As for the two of them, they still rode in that business car.

In the car, Liu Tianxian told the driver to turn up the air conditioning, took off her cap, and swept her hair back: "So hot, and so spicy."

Beijing was still very hot in September.

"Let me wipe your sweat," Fang Hong pulled out tissues and reached to wipe her.

"No need, I'll shower when we get back," Liu Tianxian thought he was being kind.

"I want to help you," Fang Hong forcibly turned her body around so her back faced him.

"Why so eager? Up to no good again, aren't you?" Liu Tianxian glanced sideways at him.

"How many men can be good-hearted when facing you?"

Fang Hong spoke bluntly, lifted her hair, and wiped the sweat from her neck.

Her skin there was soft, dotted with glistening beads of sweat—up close, it was alluring, almost tempting to lick.

"You make it sound like I can bewitch everyone," Liu Tianxian said.

"In my eyes, you already can," Fang Hong said.

Liu Tianxian smiled faintly, deeply pleased.

Seeing Liu Tianxian calmed down, Fang Hong added: "You don't blame me, do you?" He meant the Charity Bazaar incident.

"I told you to keep a low profile, but you wouldn't listen," Liu Tianxian said, sounding half-reproachful.

Fang Hong tossed the tissue aside and hugged her from behind.

"I'm so hot!" Liu Tianxian struggled, but Fang Hong held her tightly.

"I didn't start this—I offended someone's interests, and they're determined to make trouble for me," Fang Hong buried his head in her neck.

"I'm not blaming you—I'm just saying, you should tone it down a bit." Liu Tianxian knew that even if he didn't provoke others, others would come for him.

This circle has never been calm—it's all backstabbing. Do some stars' scandals really come from their own desire to expose themselves?

It's purely because they've offended someone and want them dead! She'd seen it with her own eyes—Fang Hong had given up twice already, but the other side refused to back down.

Of course, both sides were stubborn.

"I can't tone it down—I'm doing it again."

Fang Hong licked her neck—it was smooth, a little salty, but bearable.

Liu Tianxian startled, pushed him away, and turned to face him: "Wait, you're really going to do it again?"

"Yes. I'm going to build momentum for Huayi—publicize the fact that they donated fifty million to bid for the auction item for charity, so they can't deny it later and take the money back. I'm making them pay this money—no exceptions." Fang Hong spoke with authority.

This tactic was just like the one he used before, forcing Huayi to take the blame for box-office fraud.

"That's not right!" Liu Tianxian hesitated—this would make enemies of everyone.

"I'm just doing what I believe is right. Charity must be genuine—no faking it. If they don't pay, I'll betray my own conscience."

Fang Hong spoke with deep sincerity, his voice a soulful challenge: "If they take the fifty million back, can you live with yourself?"

In truth, Liu Tianxian had no trouble sleeping—she knew that even if you donated, the money might never reach those who truly needed it.

But his question made her feel small.

Suddenly, she felt Fang Hong was right!

If you're dark, then I'll force you to be clean—that's the logic.

"I don't think I did anything wrong—I'm just robbing the rich to help the poor. There's plenty of filth involved, but I did what I should, what I saw." Fang Hong added.

Liu Tianxian fell silent—she had no rebuttal.

"Maybe you think my methods are too brutal, that I've made too many enemies—but I'm fundamentally kind. Does kindness have to be ranked in tiers? I can't do that."

Fang Hong stopped speaking then, leaving Liu Tianxian to think for herself.

Sometimes, her idea of "kindness" meant being visible and tangible—avoiding conflict, maintaining good relationships with everyone.

But in Fang Hong's mind, that wasn't kindness—that was social maneuvering. Kindness meant robbing the rich to help the poor, letting the first to prosper lift up those behind.

Of course, Fang Hong didn't deny Liu Tianxian's kindness—she wouldn't have donated so much money, or helped someone she'd never met before, if she weren't kind.

The car fell quiet. Liu Tianxian listened to his words, thinking deeply, beginning to redefine "kindness."

It was only because Fang Hong had told her a few times: let the first to prosper lift up those behind, give money to those who truly need it.

Now she felt this man was the true embodiment of "kindness"—and she herself had been hypocritical!

"No one can stop me—I'm doing this," Fang Hong said, watching Liu Tianxian's expression.

"Do whatever you want!"

Liu Tianxian sighed. It was already this bad—how much worse could it get?

She added: "I've noticed every time I take you out, you cause some kind of trouble."

"Maybe I'm just born the protagonist—born with a curse that draws targeting." Fang Hong laughed.

"Get lost!" Liu Tianxian hit him.

Fang Hong ventured: "Will you still take me out to events in the future?"

"We'll see how you behave!" Liu Tianxian said playfully.

Of course she'd take him—this wasn't anything major. So many people are isolated and targeted, yet they still get by just fine.

People in the entertainment industry don't care about this stuff—who's strong, they cling to. Does Jade Rabbit really fall short? There are always people who come crawling over.

Fang Hong saw her expression soften and moved closer again, reaching to embrace her.

"What are you doing?" Liu Tianxian eyed him warily and pushed him away.

"I want to hold you again." Fang Hong wanted to lick her again—but he couldn't say that.

"Get away."

Liu Tianxian kicked him—there was a driver here, how shameless.

"I just want to tell you good news—I'm not doing anything else." Fang Hong spoke seriously.

"What good news?" Liu Tianxian looked at him, puzzled.

"I need to get close to tell you—it's too hard to say from far away." Fang Hong said shamelessly.

"Fine, say it or don't—I don't care." Liu Tianxian acted indifferent.

Now he's making demands—you've got a big head.

Fang Hong was just like that—he leaned in and volunteered: "Golden Horse Awards—you've been nominated for Best Actress."

"What?!"

Liu Tianxian's eyes widened—she hadn't heard clearly, or maybe she had.

Fang Hong leaned closer again: "You've been nominated for Best Actress at the Golden Horse Awards."

"Ah! Really?" Liu Tianxian covered her mouth with both hands, excited.

"Yes—nominated for the film 'Lost in Love 33 Days!'" Fang Hong said.

(End of Chapter)