Chapter 153: Be Yourself (Request Monthly Tickets, Request Rewards)

Lightline has a film called The Feast of Hongmen, and the Four Great Constables series, both starring Liu Tianxian.

Lightline partially invested in The Feast of Hongmen.

If this gets exposed and public opinion escalates to confirm Liu Tianxian is a lesbian, Lightline won't escape unscathed.

So Fang Hong plans to team up with Lightline to suppress this and protect the movie first.

Wang Zhangtian also heard the recent news and takes it seriously—the Three Four Great Constables films plus The Feast of Hongmen, totaling four films.

If this blows up, he'll probably lose hundreds of millions.

Who the hell said Liu Tianxian wouldn't explode? Lying to me!

The current Liu Tianxian is nothing like her past self—Talent Thief is out, the Golden Horse Awards are in, The Feast of Hongmen is in.

Reputation, status, and money are tied to a web of interests.

Add Fang Hong's butterfly effect, and the entertainment industry's landscape has subtly shifted—many things are now very different.

Liu Tianxian is the biggest beneficiary.

Others can target Liu Tianxian herself, her honors, her status, and Yutu Film all at once.

Confirming Liu Tianxian is a lesbian directly brands her as a morally compromised artist.

In the entertainment industry, no star dares to mess with anything related to "sex"—only artists from Hong Kong and Taiwan dare!

In her past life, at this stage, Liu Tianxian had no major reputation or financial stakes—there were hints, but the interests involved were minimal.

She was in a half-dead state, with a terrible reputation already.

It was her own affair; she handled it herself, and if she couldn't, she abandoned it—only then did she pull off a series of desperate reputation-repairing maneuvers.

Anyway, Fang Hong didn't understand it! They made a date; on his way there, Fang Hong called Liu Tianxian.

He kept hearing "beep beep beep" but couldn't get through, so he gave up.

At this moment, Liu Tianxian was still out promoting, surrounded by reporters gossiping.

Li Xian and Zhao Xiaodao were also at the event.

A reporter asked: "What is your relationship with Zeng Yike?"

"We're good friends."

Liu Tianxian answered succinctly.

The reporter asked: "Rumors say you're close—you appeared at her concert with your mother, held hands during travel—did this happen?"

"I'm sorry, today is a movie promotion event. I don't want my personal matters to affect the film. You may ask, but I can only say: rumors die with the wise."

Liu Tianxian realized this had gone too far—she wondered if Fang Hong would blame her.

When she first came out to promote, Fang Hong told her not to divert public opinion—focus solely on the movie.

Chen Zhixi also called her, telling her not to stir up so much trouble, and her tone was sharp, not coddling her at all.

So what if she's the boss's wife? Even the boss scolds her! Liu Tianxian felt wronged—she never imagined that just a few dates with Zeng Yike, one TV appearance, and one concert visit with her mom would be fully photographed.

It felt like someone was tailing her on purpose—when she went out with Fang Hong, everything was fine, no such issues.

Fans were baffled by Liu Tianxian's clarification—she spoke in riddles, talking about "rumors die with the wise."

If it's true, say it's true; if it's false, say it's false. Just be clear. Always being vague and making people guess, pretending to be artistic—what's the problem?

As Liu Tianxian fretted over the shifting public opinion, Fang Hong and Wang Zhangtian sat together in a private room at a club.

The room was opulently European-style; the two sat side by side on single sofas, talking.

"Actually, this is simple—just go public as a couple. A normal boyfriend-girlfriend relationship, and this storm will just blow over." Wang Zhangtian sipped tea.

"Going public is for later, not now. Right now, public opinion must favor the movie—everything must yield to the movie."

Fang Hong spoke firmly, adding: "Besides, if I go public with her, though her reputation won't suffer, the direction will shift. In the end, The Feast of Hongmen and the Four Great Constables will be affected—wouldn't you, General Manager Wang, dislike that?"

Indeed, if they went public, the public outcry would last months, crushing the buzz of all other films.

Rivals would keep dredging up breakups, domestic violence, marriage, divorce, affairs—anything they could stir up.

Sisi and Qilong are exactly like this—after marriage, all traffic stars face this.

You say Liu Tianxian isn't a traffic star? But if Liu Tianxian dates someone, she'll lose some male fans—how many men want her pure and untouched?

But Wang Zhangtian didn't care much—he only cared that Liu Tianxian not explode; who she dated didn't matter, as long as it wasn't a woman.

"Tell me your thoughts."

"We team up to suppress this storm and protect the movie." Fang Hong said.

"I don't have any of her films coming out now—I have no obligation." Wang Zhangtian tried to pressure him.

He simply had no desire to suppress the storm—no interests were at stake.

"Then when my later films, The Feast of Hongmen and the Four Great Constables, release, I won't lift a finger." Fang Hong said.

Meaning: if Liu Tianxian's lesbian scandal explodes, he won't intervene—he has no more Liu Tianxian films coming anyway.

"I'm curious—she's your girlfriend, right? Are you really just abandoning her, not planning to save her at all?" Wang Zhangtian was stunned—didn't even protect your girlfriend!

Too cold-blooded!

"Career is career, feelings are feelings—don't mix them." Fang Hong spoke casually.

He wouldn't let Liu Tianxian's affair drag him around—once you start, there'll be a second time; he absolutely wouldn't open that door.

"Hehe, you're someone who can accomplish great things."

Wang Zhangtian was impressed—facing crises, he wasn't swayed by emotion, always clear about what he wanted.

He suddenly felt a bit interested in investing in Tu Piao Piao.

Investment isn't about the product or the company—it's about the person. This man truly had that kind of boldness.

To sacrifice his lover for his career! "Fine, I agree to suppress the public outcry—but you'll help me suppress it until after the Four Great Constables releases." Wang Zhangtian, too, was protecting the movie.

If even her boyfriend won't protect her, why should he care?

"I can only say I'll do my best." Fang Hong tried to turn the pressure back on him.

"That's not fair of you. I help you, but you won't help me, and she's your girlfriend." Wang Zhangtian raised his tone a few notches.

"Big brother, the three *Four Great Constables* films all finished their theatrical run back in '14, right? It's been so long — who could hold out that long?" Fang Hong's tone also rose a few notches.

Wang Zhangtian was a bit speechless too: "I can cut the last two *Four Great Constables* projects. You just need to help me suppress it down to the first one."

Anyway, the last two *Four Great Constables* hadn't been filmed yet.

Who knows what those Hong Kong directors, actors, and Deng Chao would think about this — with just a couple of lines, Fang Hong had forced Wang Zhangtian to change their acting careers.

"I'll do my best." Fang Hong said the same thing again.

"You're really no fun. Go ahead and expose it, go ahead — whoever dies first is you anyway." Wang Zhangtian flung his hand and gave up.

There are people like this — who'd even sell out their own girlfriend. A beast.

"Hey, President Wang, don't rush."

Fang Hong held down Wang Zhangtian's arm as he was about to walk off: "We're discussing it, right? What's your rush?"

"You don't have any attitude of discussing at all. You purely want to lead me by the nose. Once you've taken all your benefits, my matters depend entirely on your mood." Wang Zhangtian's tone carried a few notes of indignation.

It was his first time losing composure in front of a young man.

Fang Hong remained steady throughout: "I never said I wouldn't help. I just have a small little request."

Wang Zhangtian couldn't be bothered with him, but didn't leave either.

"I've set up this thing called Tu Piao Piao, you know about it. I just want to use your resources to help promote it. Also, I'd like to ask you to say hello to the bosses of the major theater chains and help get Tu Piao Piao's ticketing machines installed in them."

Fang Hong finally revealed his purpose.

Enlight Media had very good relations with those theater chains, and knew them all — it was originally a distributor.

Wang Zhangtian glanced at him, shook his head and laughed: "You really don't get up early without profit."

"If I do well, it'll benefit President Wang too. You're welcome to invest anytime." Fang Hong said.

"Fine, I agree to you. But you have to promise me — resolve the Liu Tianxian matter, guarantee my project transitions safely."

This time Wang Zhangtian wasn't asking him to suppress it, but to resolve it. He still wanted to film the last two *Four Great Constables*.

After all, it had already been greenlit.

In his past life, Liu Tianxian had been forced helplessly to cut ties with Zeng Yike — she had no choice, otherwise no one would have hired her to act.

That *Third Kind of Romance* was a film she was forced to shoot, with investment from Red Star Fort.

"You need to give me some time. I'll definitely resolve this for you. After all, Liu Tianxian is my girlfriend, right?" Fang Hong said the same thing again.

Earlier he was indifferent; now she's suddenly his girlfriend.

Wang Zhangtian realized you can't beat around the bush with him — if you try to go in circles, he'll lead you right into a ditch.

"Get to the point. Let's see how to suppress it."

"You have lots of connections. See if anyone's having an affair or something, to shift the wind direction. Best if it doesn't affect the film."

"."

The two old foxes discussed for a long time before finally picking someone to sacrifice.

Only by first shifting the wind direction and extracting Liu Tianxian could the film be saved.

When Fang Hong came out, his phone went "beep beep beep."

He glanced at it, kept a straight face: "Hello!"

"I called you twice before and you didn't pick up. What were you doing?" Liu Tianxian on the other end had already finished the event and was in the rest room.

"What else could I be doing? Cleaning up your mess." Fang Hong's tone was sour.

"You already know?" Liu Tianxian felt a bit guilty.

"What, you didn't want me to know?" Fang Hong retorted.

"Ugh, can your attitude be a little better? There's nothing going on at all. Whether I'm like that or not — others may not know, but don't you know?" Liu Tianxian was also a bit annoyed; her mood was already bad.

"Hey, I really don't know." Fang Hong said.

Liu Tianxian was speechless, angry: "So do you want me to take my pants off and show you?"

"Worth considering." Fang Hong said.

"How can you be so shameless."

Liu Tianxian cursed: "Let me tell you, she's just a friend. I treated her as a good friend, that's all."

"Now I have to say something to you. Don't you think you're being stupid? What kind of background is she, what's your status — don't you have any sense of boundaries?" Fang Hong's tone grew heavier.

"So I'm not even free to make friends, is that it?" Liu Tianxian retorted.

"You are, but you have to look at who." Fang Hong said.

"She's perfectly normal, I'm perfectly normal too. She's good to me, willing to be my friend, her character isn't bad, her heart is sincere — I feel there's no problem. I just want to be myself, not be swayed by other things. Is that wrong too?"

"Don't you feel there's something fishy in here, some kind of plot?" Fang Hong reminded.

"What plot? Can you stop always thinking the worst of people?" Liu Tianxian defended.

"Just go ahead and be yourself!"

Fang Hong hung up the phone directly, realizing he couldn't get through to her — she'd have to hit a wall before realizing something was wrong.

Are friends really that important? (End of chapter)