Chapter 32: I Also Want to Be a Good Person

When you refused to let me be listed, did you ever consider how others felt?

Along the way, how many sneers have I endured—who understands?

This matter won't be settled, because our interests don't align.

Fang Hong is determined to piggyback, purely because he has no money.

But he isn't afraid of Wang Laoer—Baodao people have no roots here; no matter how rich, they still have no roots.

After hanging up the phone, Wang Laoer sought out investors to discuss a strategy.

What's there to discuss? They talk about art with their lips, but their minds are all about commerce.

We were doomed from the start!

Wang Laoer felt he'd been fooled by that guy, and he was deeply frustrated—he'd just entered the film industry and already ran into someone like this.

This industry is truly hard to survive in, truly treacherous!

I should've done a kissing scene with Liu Tianxian back then—using that as a gimmick could've drawn in a bunch of LSPs; I'm still just a singer crossing over, I can't carry the box office.

Now there's no choice—if they've come at me, I have to respond.

"Move the release date up! Push it forward by one day!" the investor suggested.

"."

After Wang Laoer left, Liu Tianxian returned to her chauffeur-driven car and called Fang Hong again.

"I've realized you're quite devious."

I didn't say it before because there were outsiders.

"Then tell me, what else can I do? My situation isn't known to others—don't you know it too?" Fang Hong said.

Liu Tianxian did know—clearly. She'd built the entire crew from scratch, secured the funding; without some strategy, they'd likely be utterly defeated.

"I'm truly sorry about this matter—I owe you one," Fang Hong switched to emotional appeals.

This made Liu Tianxian feel uneasy. "You have your own struggles—I don't blame you."

"Will you help me one more time? During the roadshow, promote my film a little." Fang Hong said.

Though this girl is constantly criticized, her national recognition is still top-tier—just mentioning my film during her promotion would be a huge help!

"That's against the rules."

Liu Tianxian is promoting someone else's film—how can she casually mention another movie?

She can't even acknowledge it!

"Yifei, you have to help me—if you don't, no one else can." Fang Hong's tone was sincere.

Liu Tianxian's heart softened a little, but she was still troubled.

Then Fang Hong added: "I know I've done many things wrong—I really want to be a good person, and you've seen that."

Indeed, he'd always been kind to students and ordinary people, never bullied them—Liu Tianxian had witnessed it all during filming.

That was also why she admired him.

"Wang Laoer moved the release date up by one day—you handle it yourself." She'd softened again.

"Thank you—if I can't repay you in this life, I'll be your ox or horse in the next," Fang Hong promised, words tumbling out easily.

"It's not that serious—it's just a small thing," Liu Tianxian said.

"Yifei, there's a phrase I've held in my heart for a long time—I wanted to say it the moment I first saw you." Fang Hong's tone suddenly turned tender.

Liu Tianxian's heart trembled; her voice sounded slightly unnatural. "What phrase?"

On the other end, Fang Hong signaled the person across from him to wait, then walked to a secluded spot. "Can you lend me five million more?"

"Get lost—have you become addicted to borrowing?!"

Liu Tianxian exhaled lightly—after all that, this man had blurted out such a line.

She'd thought he was going to confess to her, and she'd been preparing to refuse—they weren't that close, no such feeling existed between them.

In truth, Fang Hong had really wanted to say: Be my girlfriend!

But he feared they'd lose even their friendship—that would be a terrible loss; he'd lose his source of free wool!

Mostly, they still weren't very familiar with each other!

"You've seen that film, '33 Days of Losing Love,' right? The script's already written, just waiting to shoot—I have no choice but to come to you." Fang Hong said.

"You're always 'no choice'—the movie's about to release, why can't you wait?!" Liu Tianxian's voice rose slightly.

She had indeed read the novel—the female lead was an artsy young woman.

In fact, some traits of that character matched her well—she was an artsy young woman too!

If Fang Hong knew her thoughts, he'd say: You're a fake artsy young woman.

"From the movie's release until final box office returns, it'll take at least a month—recovery will take half a year at least. The timeline is long." Fang Hong said.

Box office returns in the film industry are slow—from theaters to theater chains, to distributors, to producers—even the fastest takes three months.

Some drag it out for half a year or even a year.

That's why film production companies always have tight cash flow and need multiple investors.

We can't wait—if multiple projects start at once, where's the money?

That's why film is a high-risk industry!

The fast-settlement era is ending; the Traffic Era is coming—then box office returns will flood producers' accounts within days.

"But you can't keep exploiting just me! I'm not your anything." Liu Tianxian said.

"Yifei, you have to help me—if you don't, no one in this world can help me." Fang Hong said it again.

No words left—here he goes again. Liu Tianxian rolled her eyes—how had she ever met such a shameless man?

Fang Hong changed tactics: "The female lead is very much like you—I think you're the only one suited for the role, no one else."

Of course you think no one else is suitable—you'd get to free-ride and borrow money from me. Liu Tianxian didn't say that; instead, she said: "So your meaning is—if I act, you'll give me five million?"

"It's not a gift, it's a loan—I'll pay you back, and I'll give you a fee too, but you'll get that fee only after the movie is released," Fang Hong said.

This sounded familiar—it was exactly the same tactic when they made Those Years.

Liu Tianxian was speechless: "Bro, can't you try a different tactic?"

"Don't focus on these details—I'll write you an IOU," Fang Hong said.

Here we go again, Liu Tianxian couldn't help laughing: "You really mean to give me that role? Do you really think I'm suitable?"

She felt her acting wasn't strong enough—that role demanded serious skill.

"I really mean to give it to you—no one else but you!"

Fang Hong continued to flatter: "Honestly, I have great faith in your acting. I see you as a rising star—you just haven't unlocked that potential yet."

"Really?" Liu Tianxian said, unconvinced.

"I'm a director—a great director. Don't you believe me? I say you can do it, and you can do it," Fang Hong said with certainty.

"That's exactly why I've believed you too much," Liu Tianxian muttered.

"Then believe me all the way—I promise you won't be disappointed," Fang Hong pressed on.

These words left Liu Tianxian silent. This man always had a certain magnetism—a confidence that made it feel like following him meant success.

"I'll think about it."

Liu Tianxian added: "But my A Chinese Ghost Story won't finish shooting until September 1st. Can you wait?"

After finishing this promotion, she'd have to rush back to keep filming—it was all so busy.

"This production waits for no one but you," Fang Hong said, his words sweet.

With capital backing, special treatment was only natural.

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(End of Chapter)