Chapter 317: Learning to Meow

The teachers and students below watched the principal's heated debate, the student being debated looking rather pale.

He said the films the principal made had no meaning, and the principal told him what meaning was—not that only art films that glorify suffering have meaning.

"I never said you couldn't make commercial films, I just think you should make some art films, and not blindly chase worldly money," that student from the Director Department said.

"All of you here, including the public, think that since I'm rich, I should do this or that—tell me, what is 'should'? No one has ever told me what 'should' is.

Your line of reasoning is the same as saying I should give back to society, do some charity. Let me tell you—I'm not one person, I have a lot of people under me, they all need to eat, they all need to live. I have to guarantee their livelihoods first, raise their income, before I can explore the meaning you're talking about.

Giving back isn't about how much money you donated, how much charity you did—it's about guaranteeing your employees, the people who follow you, raising their income. I think that is the greatest giving back, the greatest charity.

I need to have the chicken first before I can lay an artistic egg. Let me tell you now—my company isn't not investing in art films, we are making them, it's just that at this stage you haven't seen them.

What should be done, I'm doing it all. It's not that I only did commercial work and didn't do art, it's not that I only cared about making money and didn't give back. You can ask some of the seniors who work with me whether I've guaranteed their pay while also giving them extra money."

Fang Hong's words drew another round of applause from the whole room. Not long ago, news broke that Jade Rabbit was undergoing a full reform.

Giving screenwriters, behind-the-scenes staff, and producers extra shares—with the biggest increase going to the behind-the-scenes crew,

This wasn't any secret. Beijing Film Academy was already a small circle; any stir at Jade Rabbit, everyone would hear about it.

"I think you should thank me—I'm the one who let people know that you've actually done so many meaningful things."

"Actually, I'd rather we do some meaningless things, that way there's no pressure."

Fang Hong cut off this Director Department student's speech—the rest of it was basically just backpedaling for himself.

That Director Department student's face turned awkward, and he could only sit down.

Another student stood up. Fang Hong recognized him—it was Zhang Yishan.

He first introduced himself, then said: "I want to ask—I'm asking this on behalf of a friend—how do you view the people who got along poorly with you on your path to growth, the people who hold grudges against you?"

Yang Zi beside him couldn't help shrinking down, wanting to be an ostrich.

Fang Hong noticed and smiled: "Laugh it off."

These words drew "clap clap clap" applause from the whole room, and some people also turned their gaze toward Yang Zi's direction.

The exact details of that incident were unknown, but everyone had heard the gist.

Yang Zi felt a bit of relief. She had always felt Fang Hong was going to get back at her, do something to her, because the principal she'd heard about was known for settling scores—grudges repaid, grievances answered—his reputation preceded him.

Zhang Yishan glanced at his good friend beside him and asked again: "Don't you have any grudge at all against the people who got along poorly with you, any resentment toward those who criticized you?"

"You have to understand, wanting everyone to like you is a very hard thing. The only thing I can do is choose to ignore them and stay away.

Don't care about what others say, what they do to you—focus more on your own inner thoughts, and your life will be better for it.

If criticism is not free, then praise is meaningless."

"Thank you, senior." Zhang Yishan sat down.

Warm applause rang out from below once again.

Yang Zi was silent. Someone like her couldn't even rouse the principal's interest—was that something to be relieved about, or to feel wistful over?

After that, students from Beijing Film Academy asked more questions, mostly about the entertainment circle, and some questioning of Fang Hong.

He answered each one in turn, nothing he couldn't say—whoever dared to ask, he dared to answer.

Including some inside stories of the entertainment circle, as long as he knew them, he'd say them straight out.

Some people pressed their palms together before their lips, eyes glistening as they gazed at the sharp-tongued person on stage; some had calm eyes, some seemed to have gained something.

Nazha also gazed dreamily at the person on stage.

The earlier words had set their hearts stirring; these later words sent ripples through everyone present.

The exchange lasted about two hours, and when it ended, the students were still somewhat reluctant to let it go.

Some students even updated on their social media: "This might be the two hours of my life I'll never forget."

The attached picture was a photo of Fang Hong standing on stage.

Other students updated on Weibo: "The principal's speech seemed to have some kind of power, it made me no longer confused."

"."

Many Beijing Film Academy students posted their thoughts from this event on their own social media.

One could imagine what kind of enlightening effect Fang Hong's speech had on these students' outlook on life.

After all, he had been through a lot himself, and shared with the students his insights on facing difficulties.

Perseverance, focus, facing life with optimism.

Even after Fang Hong left, Beijing Film Academy students kept talking about it with great interest, and the image of "the principal" grew considerably taller in some groups.

Before, they had no real concept of the principal, only heard others talk about him, simply because the principal was too far removed from them.

But after the speech, they had a concept of him—believing he had a spirit of transcending himself, always moving forward with optimism, firmly convinced he was right.

A reborn person, after all, would certainly believe he was right.

This matter gave some young people and students a sense of worship and admiration toward him.

When the full video of Fang Hong's speech at Beijing Film Academy was posted on Bilibili, some admiring Wangyi came to watch.

"First time watching such a long speech, found the principal really has substance, no boring moments throughout."

"Golden line: the pursuit of love, the thirst for knowledge, the uncontrollable compassion for human suffering."

"One listen wasn't enough, the principal was so heartfelt."

"Feels like the principal is really talented—people like him are the young idols people should chase, not Xiao Wang or those young celebrities."

"Very clear-headed, awesome!"

"Spoke so well. Graduated many years ago, still dissatisfied with the status quo, wanting to change myself."

"."

Because the video was too long, not too many people could finish it, and the views were only around a hundred thousand—but that view count was already amazing, mainly because the principal was too famous.

Bilibili didn't have that much traffic either; to break through the view limit, it could only accumulate day by day.

But Fang Hong's image was already changing.

Although some people liked him very much, others criticized him, saying everything he said was just chicken soup for the soul.

That doesn't matter — it's impossible to make everyone like you.

Being popular with the student crowd also brought Fang Hong invitations from other schools, wanting him to come give a speech.

Fang Hong of course declined tactfully — how could he possibly have that much in his belly?

One lecture might require a long time to prepare, reading many books, thinking through how to answer every possible question and situation that might come up; it would take ages to digest before he could give a second one.

Otherwise people would discover he was a fake intellectual, just like Liu Tianxian.

Liu Tianxian had listened to Fang Hong's entire speech from under the covers too, and her heart could not settle for a long time afterward.

"Pain comes from your dissatisfaction with the present; anxiety comes from your growing too slowly."

"A passionate desire for knowledge, a pursuit of love, and an uncontrollable compassion for the suffering of mankind — three simple yet powerful passions have governed my entire life,"

"."

She murmured softly, tears slipping down before she knew it; she could deeply feel the sense of mission deep within Fang Hong's heart.

This sense of mission was a kind of responsibility — responsibility toward his career, toward love.

This sense of responsibility drove him forward without cease.

After a long while, Liu Tianxian finally let out a breath, wiped her face with a tissue, sat up in bed, and dialed Fang Hong's number.

"Hello, what are you doing?"

Usually Liu Tianxian's first line on the phone was always some opener like "What are you up to?" or "What are you doing?"???? Subconsciously she wanted to know what this man was doing.

"At home, thinking of you, wondering why you still haven't come back." Fang Hong leaned against the headboard, casually telling her where he was so she could set her mind at ease.

"Really miss me that much?" Liu Tianxian giggled.

She was currently in Paris attending Fashion Week; March was the season when spring and summer changed places, and holding Fashion Week at this time could lead the trends for the entire year.

Every year Fashion Week was either in March or September.

"Of course, miss you so so much." Fang Hong said.

"Why is it I'm hearing that you should be grateful — grateful to those who have helped you?" Liu Tianxian's tone was very gentle.

"That absolutely does not include you."

"Why not?" Liu Tianxian's heart was full of affection.

"You're my little Feifei — being grateful to you would be too much like a stranger, wouldn't you say!" Fang Hong said.

Liu Tianxian smiled; she could understand what he meant. Gratitude was appreciation toward outsiders, a behavior that sought a return.

Between them it was love; if they were also grateful, it would be too distant.

As they chatted, Liu Tianxian said: "It's almost over here, I'll be back in a couple of days!"

"Okay, are you asleep now?" Fang Hong said.

"Lying down." Liu Tianxian said.

"Oh, is that so." Fang Hong murmured, seeming to have something he wanted to say, but he held back.

Liu Tianxian could sense it: "What's wrong? Is there something you want to say?"

"I remember you wear pajamas to sleep, and usually you don't wear anything underneath, right?" Fang Hong said.

"Why are you saying this?" Liu Tianxian was puzzled.

"Nothing, just asking." Fang Hong said.

"You should know — the top, no bra; the bottom, you do wear panties." Liu Tianxian was very matter-of-fact.

"I'd like to, um um hm hm, admire your body — I wonder if Miss Liu would be so kind." Fang Hong was being quite the affected gentleman.

Liu Tianxian laughed: "What, you're thinking about it?"

This man was probably thinking about it, feeling lonely.

"Yes, the longing has gone from skin to bone." Fang Hong was being quite the literary type.

"Oh, you'd better ask for something else — this isn't appropriate." Liu Tianxian said.

This kind could only be photographed; it wasn't that she didn't want to take photos — any other kind of photo he wanted she would happily take — but photos of this nude nature weren't safe. If they were accidentally leaked, she'd have no face to see anyone ever again.

Normal photos were fine, just for fun; but nude photos, if leaked, would destroy her reputation. The best approach was not to take them.

"Alright then, you do a bed-call for me to hear." Fang Hong also knew it wasn't right.

"How do I do that? I don't know how — you teach me!" Liu Tianxian teased.

"Ah ah. Ah!"

Fang Hong, all flirtatious on the phone, imitated the female leads from AVs.

Liu Tianxian covered her mouth, holding back laughter, her eyes curving like lovely crescents — this man was just too funny.

She didn't think there was anything wrong with it; on the contrary, she thought it was perfectly normal. Before, if this man had done something like this, she might have felt uncomfortable, felt disrespected.

Now for her it was a kind of playfulness, a seasoning for their relationship.

"That's it, your turn." Fang Hong said.

"That's too hard — let me do a cat meow for you, my cat meow is very nice." Liu Tianxian giggled.

"Fine, let me hear." Fang Hong agreed reluctantly.

Liu Tianxian gave a soft "ahem," then in her little milky voice: "Meow meow meow meow"

"Is that how cats meow?" Something sounded off to Fang Hong — the voice was cute, but it didn't sound like a cat meow at all.

"Yes, that's how my cat at home meows." Liu Tianxian said.

"Why does it sound to me like a dog in heat."

"Say that again — believe it or not I'll beat you to death. You're the dog, you pup."

"."

The two chatted on until the middle of the night before hanging up; despite the time difference, it couldn't stop that kind of missing.

The Demon Subjugation film, which had been in theaters for over a month, has now finished its run, with a total box office of 1.246 billion, about thirty million less than Lost in Thailand.

It failed to claim the top spot in Chinese-language film history!

Even so, surpassing a billion at the box office is already an extremely successful film in this era.

Yet Huayi and Xing Ye's group weren't particularly pleased, appearing calm on the surface—they made money, but not all that much.

The film won't lose money; it's just a question of how much it earns, and there's still the copyright revenue to bring in another sum.

However, it triggered a dispute over profit-sharing. The cause traces back to a bet between Xing Ye and Huayi: for every how many hundred million the box office exceeded, Xing Ye would get an extra sum of money.

But this bet was only notified by email, with no signature from both parties. Huayi now refuses to acknowledge it and doesn't want to pay up.

The two sides are still arguing over this. Even if it goes to court, Huayi would win—Xing Ye is still too green.

This incident shows that no matter how long you've been in this circle, no matter how old you are, there's always a moment of naivety, of trusting people too easily.

Fifty Shades of Grey has also been in theaters for over a month, and this film's box office has also reached its end.

North America 166 million, International Market 405 million, global total 571 million US dollars—truly a hit.

This film was insanely explosive in its early run, then fell off later—it really was terrible—but it didn't affect Yu Xian's rising fame one bit.

Although his reputation at home wasn't prominent, in the United States he was appearing on all sorts of talk shows, accepting all kinds of event invitations—truly in the limelight.

In any case, there were appearance fees, so he wasn't losing out.

Just recently, he was even seen at the Oscar awards ceremony, just there as a guest—the award had nothing to do with him.

But that didn't stop him under the spotlight, blowing a kiss to the global audience—his moment in the sun was unmatched.

When the box office broke 500 million, Universal's boss Donna even called Fang Hong, inviting him to the United States to attend the celebration banquet, but Fang Hong declined on the grounds that he had things to do.

Going over would be too flashy—he should keep a low profile, with Wanda watching him.

Not to mention Wanda, Alibaba is also watching him. Alibaba is also pushing into Hollywood, investing in Mission Impossible 5.

The big capital players now aren't interested in the domestic market; they're all scheming to lay out globally and grab a share of the pie.

And Fang Hong is the first one to have gone out there.

Global 571 million US dollars—the Zhong family can get 142 million, net profit is about 100 million, because 40 million was the investment.

Of this 142 million, 100 million was earmarked for buying Nvidia stock; the other 30 million, or 210 million, is to serve as startup capital for the film and television base.

Once the funds are in place, they'll pick a date to break ground and start construction—not only building the film and television base, but also building Yu Tu's office building.

A 2.1 billion investment certainly calls for an office building to be built.

Additionally, there's another 10 million thrown to Yu Xian to have a good time—the man worked hard for so long, he deserves a reward.

With this sum and his previous savings, Yu Xian took out a mortgage in Beverly Hills and bought a super-luxurious villa.

Heard he took a 30 million US dollar mortgage, plus the cash he had on hand, that mansion is worth about 50 million, or 350 million—seriously extravagant.

But the place is worth the price—it's known as "the world's most prestigious residential area"!

Actually, 10 million could have bought one too, but Yu Xian likes to show off, willing to become a mortgage slave just to put on a show!

Nothing more tonight

(End of chapter)