Chapter 226: Shelter from the Wind and Rain

After dinner, the four of them took a stroll and chatted for a while; while they talked, it was usually the three women doing the chatting, with Fang Hong listening.

Unless someone asked him something, he'd say a couple of words; he generally wouldn't speak up—it was women's topics, after all.

As time passed, the sky gradually darkened, and the mother and daughter saw Fang Hong and Shuchang off from the Villa.

On the way, Liu Tianxian asked, "In a couple of days I need to go to the Shanghai Film Festival. You're going too, right?"

"What would I go for?" Fang Hong said.

That film festival is just a place for movie Propaganda Department; when you mention this festival, what comes to mind is the red carpet, celebrities, hype, and light shows—almost no one actually goes for watching films or artistic exchange.

Speaking of this film festival, its international influence is very limited; very few films of any real stature come to compete for awards.

As for winning an award, that's pretty much impossible—the international friends don't have enough to go around, so how would they give one to them?

At most, they'd take home a Film Channel Media Award.

"Go take a look, do some publicity for 'Lucy 1,' going there gets you exposure," Liu Tianxian said.

That place has lots of media, plus a press line-up.

"You still need to promote your own 'The Four'—how can you promote 'Lucy 1' at the same time? You can't handle that much," Fang Hong said.

'The Four''s release date is different from the previous life; it's been moved to June 28th. In the previous life it was July 12th, half a month apart from 'Painted Skin 2.'

In this life, due to Fang Hong's butterfly effect, 'Painted Skin 2' has been moved to July 15th.

To put it bluntly, they're going after 'Lucy 1.' Two years ago Fang Hong stuck his nose into their business; this time they want to stick their nose into his.

This isn't Fang Hong stirring up trouble—'Lucy 1' was planned for a summer release.

Wang Zhangtian doesn't care either; it has nothing to do with him.

Huayi saw the schedule and moved theirs to the same day, wanting to get even.

'Painted Skin 2' is an IP film, plus it has big names like Young Master Zhou and Yan Zi—Huayi is very confident they can crush Yutu and Liu Tianxian.

Huayi has a lot of films this year.

"Anyway, you're going, representing the 'Lucy 1' crew. How come you don't seem to care much about your own film?" Liu Tianxian found it very strange.

They're all films she stars in, like her own children—she does care quite a bit, watching this man look so nonchalant.

Fang Hong leaned closer and joked, "In the film I let you slap me a few times, so I thought about it and decided to just let it flop."

"Get lost! Can't you say anything nice? You were the one who insisted on acting in it back then." Liu Tianxian punched this man's arm.

She certainly didn't want it to flop; she hoped the box office would be good and the reviews would be good—she still had that wish.

Fang Hong rubbed his punched arm: "If I go, I bet reporters will ask me questions I shouldn't be asked."

"Say whatever you're supposed to say," Liu Tianxian said.

It's not like they're using underhanded tactics; whatever people say, why can't she fire back?

Being open and aboveboard is enough.

"What are you two chatting about?" Shuchang turned back to ask.

She had been chatting with Liu Xiaoli up ahead and had now reached the car.

"Nothing much, just about the film's release," Liu Tianxian walked forward: "Be careful on the road, come visit again when you have time."

"Okay, bye-bye, bye-bye Auntie, bye-bye Principal." Shuchang waved at the three of them.

"Bye-bye!"

"."

The three of them waved, and Fang Hong was about to leave too. He said goodbye to Liu Xiaoli: "Auntie, I'm off."

"Take it slow on the road." Liu Xiaoli finally managed a word of concern.

Liu Tianxian saw him into the car: "Call me when you get home."

"Mm!" Fang Hong nodded.

The two of them could only say that much; with Liu Xiaoli right there, they couldn't have a kiss goodbye or anything—quite a pity.

After everyone left, the Villa returned to its usual quiet.

Mother and daughter sat in the living room sofa area, eating fruit, chatting, and watching TV—very comfortable.

"Was the recent storm Little Fang's doing?" Liu Xiaoli asked her daughter.

She was talking about the Zeng matter; she'd been following that too, since it had dragged her daughter into it as well.

Actually, many people had guessed it was the Principal's doing—it wasn't exactly subtle—but no one had proof; this kind of thing was very common in the industry.

Who was doing what to whom, people could mostly guess.

"It was him," Liu Tianxian admitted.

"He's quite capable, getting his hands on Zeng's photos," Liu Xiaoli said.

Liu Tianxian was surprised and asked, "Mom, don't you think what he did was excessive?"

"There are plenty in showbiz more excessive than him; some even caused deaths, and they're still doing just fine."

Liu Xiaoli looked at her daughter and went on, "Take that guy—famous for being a total creep, he's done plenty of rotten things, and shamelessly bragged about them as gossip, and just like that he transformed himself into someone with an association identity. Who are you going to reason with?"

If Fang Hong had heard this, he might have counted her as a kindred spirit—everyone was talking about him, and only Liu Xiaoli spoke a word of fairness for him.

Honestly, sometimes Fang Hong really didn't feel he'd done anything wrong; the filth in this circle is truly worse than anyone imagines.

When things blow up, most just fizzle out with no resolution.

For example, a female actress exposed that over 30 directors had slept with her for roles—and then? Nothing happened after that.

So-and-so was forced to jump off a building—and then? Nothing happened after that.

"I know everything you're saying, but this matter, Fang Hong shouldn't have done it—it's no good for him," Liu Tianxian shook her head.

"Let me tell you, daughter—any big shot who rises has done dirty things to some degree. Pick any business tycoon in the world, they've all done it.

It's just that now they've risen, their territory is bigger, and they don't do it themselves anymore—but that doesn't mean it's gone; it still exists."

Liu Xiaoli had seen a lot, experienced a lot.

Business tycoons love to brag about their bitter struggles after they've made it, but the truly unsavory things they've done — nobody talks about those. People always love to imagine the beautiful side, believing those people succeeded through effort, through wisdom, through hard work.

In truth there was struggle, and plenty of underhanded tactics — they just got buried under a halo of reputation.

"Did that stop them from rising? On the contrary, it accelerated their rise. Fang Hong's rise certainly had to do with his ability, but also with his methods.

If his first film hadn't been hyped up that way — not through plagiarism hype, not through you and Wang Laoer hyping it — he wouldn't be who he is today.

His second film — if he hadn't sicced the feminist crowd on them, he might have been crushed by Huayi by now. How many geniuses, how many heroes, have been crushed along the road forward — not because they lacked talent, but because they were too kind-hearted, not ruthless enough."

Liu Xiaoli spoke clearly, saw things through to the end. She placed her hand on her daughter's leg: "If it weren't for that, someone of his background, in this worldly torrent — just standing firm is already agonizingly hard; rising above the crowd would be harder than reaching the sky."

Liu Tianxian was stunned speechless by her mother's words — she had just finished lecturing Fang Hong.

She hadn't expected her mother to take Fang Hong's side this time. Who's in the wrong?

"You may well be right, but I don't want him to become someone people dislike. I want him to become someone people respect," Liu Tianxian said.

Her thoughts differed from her mother's — she cared about Fang Hong as a person.

"Xixi, let me tell you — you need a man like that to shelter you from the wind and rain, to do for you the things you're unwilling to do. Not everything can be endured in silence and gotten past with patience — that's too exhausting."

Liu Xiaoli spoke sincerely: "A man like Fang Hong is a perfect fit — he's got the methods, he's ruthless to his enemies, his ability stands out, his strength is not lacking. He can shelter you from wind and rain, sweep your obstacles clean."

After all that back and forth, it was still for her daughter's sake! "Mom, what do you take people for? Fang Hong is my boyfriend, not our tool," Liu Tianxian was unhappy.

"Oh, I didn't say he was a tool. As your man, isn't protecting you what he ought to do?" Liu Xiaoli said it as if it were the most natural thing.

"But I don't want him to do bad things for me either — I'd feel guilty."

No matter how floridly her mother painted it, Liu Tianxian simply refused to agree.

Fang Hong was already showing signs of change — to drag him back to the old ways, where was the sense in that?

"Why are you so stubborn? It's all for your own good," Liu Xiaoli said with earnest, painstaking persuasion.

"I know you're doing this for my good, but I don't want to see Fang Hong sink. When he does something wrong, as his girlfriend, it's my duty to pull him back," Liu Tianxian said firmly, her gaze equally firm.

Liu Xiaoli sighed inwardly — all that talking for nothing, her mouth was parched.

Her daughter still had her own opinions now, unlike before when she listened to everything she said.

She wouldn't bring this up with Fang Hong — the position wasn't right. Where's the mother-in-law who goes to her 'son-in-law' and says, "Be my daughter's black gloves!" That sounds too awful, the optics are terrible! She picked up her water glass and took a sip. Liu Tianxian grabbed an apple: "If there's nothing else, I'll head back to my room."

"Actually, you could think it over — no need to be so extreme. A gentler approach is fine too; it doesn't have to be all black or all white," Liu Xiaoli hadn't given up.

"I know!" Liu Tianxian stood up: "Get some rest early."

With that, she went upstairs. Liu Xiaoli watched her go, didn't stop her.

Back in her room, Liu Tianxian sat at her desk, one hand propping up her chin, staring blankly in silence, as if thinking about something.

The lamp's clear, bright light fell on her face, making her look crystalline and translucent, very beautiful.

Then she opened the book in front of her — it was one Fang Hong had given her a few years ago.

She had been reading it all along.

"Master, Doggo's calling again!"

That ringtone sounded like her own voice.

Liu Tianxian picked up her phone and answered without even looking — this was Fang Hong's exclusive ringtone, set only for him.

"I'm reading that book of yours," her voice was as usual, unaffected by what her mother had said.

"What book?" Fang Hong was a bit confused.

"The Power of Now. You gave it to me over two years ago — you forgot?" Liu Tianxian said.

"What do you mean I gave it to you? You clearly snatched it from me," Fang Hong remembered.

"Hey, is it really that hard for you to give me a gift now?!" Liu Tianxian was unhappy.

"I'll give it to you, I'll give it to you," Fang Hong laughed.

"Good thing you're not beside me — if you were, I'd definitely beat you up," Liu Tianxian said in a cutesy-fierce way.

"Then how about I come find you?" Fang Hong teased her.

"If you've got the guts, come."

Liu Tianxian threatened.

"Forget it, not going," Fang Hong backed down.

Mainly because Liu Xiaoli was there. If Liu Xiaoli weren't around, when Liu Tianxian said something like that, he'd definitely scamper over in a heartbeat.

He was afraid that rushing over this late at night and getting chased out by Liu Xiaoli wouldn't be good.

"That's all the backbone you've got," Liu Tianxian said.

"Yes, yes, yes, that's all the backbone I've got," Fang Hong admitted readily.

Liu Tianxian pressed her lips and smiled: "Hey, do you remember what I told you? I said once I finished this book, I'd share it with you."

"Mm, I remember. I waited so long and you never finished it — did you finish it today?" Fang Hong said.

"No!" Liu Tianxian said.

"Then you're reading way too slowly!" Fang Hong said.

"I plan to read it together with you, read it aloud to you," Liu Tianxian's voice turned gentle.

"That works!" Fang Hong agreed.

Perfect, since he couldn't sleep — use it as Hypnosis.

Liu Tianxian turned a page: "Our concepts and thoughts influence how we perceive things."

Her voice was warm and soft, as if someone were whispering tenderly by one's ear, carrying a power that could heal the heart.

This book could transform a person's outlook, elevate their mindset and perception — most importantly, an inner psychological shift.

She wanted Fang Hong to change.

(End of chapter)