Chapter 328: A Moment of Silence

Once the foundation laying and earth tamping were done, a volley of firecrackers went off—"crackle, pop, pop"—signaling the project's official launch.

Lion dancers kept going, gongs kept pounding, the scene was lively and quite festive.

The leaders stood around watching and applauding.

Actually, the groundbreaking ceremony was pretty rough; normally people dig a big pit for the soil, but they just made a small mound.

No choice—it was decided on the spur of the moment, and having the leaders show up was already plenty of face.

A ceremony doesn't depend on how fancy it is, but on who shows up.

After the groundbreaking ceremony wrapped up, it was already afternoon. Fang Hong hosted the leaders for a meal at a farmhouse restaurant in the HR District.

A big round table was laden with fine wine and dishes.

"Come, I'm just getting started here myself—I'll still need all you leaders' generous support going forward!" Fang Hong rose and poured wine for Zhang Hongsen first.

He was a vice-ministerial rank, and a real power-holder, so naturally he got served first; then came the university leaders, followed by the others and the district leaders.

Take Li Xuejian—although he was at the level of chairman of the Film Association, he had no administrative rank, but he was older, so he counted as an elder.

When these older-generation leaders, elders, or people from within the system dine together, there are a lot of rules—how to pour wine, how to serve dishes, a whole pile of etiquette.

If you don't move in those circles regularly, you simply can't navigate all their twists and turns.

That's just how drinking-table culture works.

Actually, Fang Hong didn't really get it either, but nobody fussed too much, and Chen Zhixi was there to help handle things.

"No trouble at all. As long as you make good films, I'm already very gratified." Zhang Hongsen raised a hand to wave it off.

Everyone else just watched—whenever Fang Hong poured for someone, they'd lift their glass a little.

"Director Zhang, don't worry. When I say I make films, I make films—I'm nothing like those other companies that get up to all sorts of shady stuff." Fang Hong said.

He was referring to those film and TV companies that, once they got the money and the land, claimed to be in the film business but were really in real estate—naming names like Huayi and Bona, who were the same.

It was a pointed jab, and everyone present knew exactly who he meant.

Fang Hong poured for the district leaders: "Sorry for the poor hospitality, you two—please eat and drink well."

"We're the ones who should count on your support. You coming here to invest and boost the economy—we'll need plenty more investment down the line." The district leaders raised their glasses and laughed.

With Jade Rabbit here, tax revenue alone could jump a big chunk, and it would pull along other service industries too. Not to mention anything else, just the extras' daily needs—eating, drinking, everything—would already support a lot of small vendors.

"Of course." Fang Hong sat back down in his seat.

If he could, he'd move Chang'e over here too!

Liu Tianxian sat quietly beside him. At a gathering like this she couldn't get a word in, but if anyone spoke to her, she'd respond.

"Our area is undergoing urban renewal right now, with plenty of idle land. The real estate market is hot too—wonder if General Manager Fang has any interest in investing?" The district leaders brought up real estate.

They were pitching projects to Fang Hong. Mainly, Jade Rabbit had money—last time the land was eighty million yuan, paid in one lump sum, very爽快.

Eighty million yuan is a very considerable sum of revenue for a single district.

"Sorry, real estate isn't my forte, nor is it my strong suit. I only do well in the fields I know."

Fang Hong had just taken a jab at Huayi for getting up to shady stuff, and now someone was pitching real estate to him.

It's just that he'd do anything else, but not real estate—it's what he hates most.

"An enterprise of whatever nature should do its own job well—that's what's proper." Zhang Hongsen stepped in to smooth things over.

The meaning was: don't, for the sake of political achievements, drag just anyone into real estate.

Hearing that, the district leaders said no more. They'd been hoping to find a deep-pocketed backer to boost the local economy, but didn't expect him to stick strictly to his own patch.

The dinner went on like that—chatting about films, chatting about development, nothing else of substance.

The district leaders wanted Fang Hong's capital for GDP and urban renewal; Zhang Hongsen wanted someone like Fang Hong for his film-development strategy.

And Fang Hong needed these people's policy support—each taking what they needed.

After the meal it was evening, and by the time they got back to the city it was already the middle of the night. A business van pulled over, and Liu Tianxian, her head resting on Fang Hong's shoulder, was helped out of the car.

She'd had a little alcohol—not much, just a bit of baijiu.

Walking along, Fang Hong noticed her Villa was dark and couldn't help asking, "Is your mom asleep? The lights are off."

"I don't know, maybe she's not home." Liu Tianxian nuzzled against his shoulder.

"How are you even being a daughter? You don't even know where your mom is?" Fang Hong looked down at her.

"Are you asking for a beating?"

Liu Tianxian snapped at him, then went on: "I've been really busy lately. When I'm filming and running around to events, I don't see anyone for months—how could I possibly keep tabs on my mom every second? Do you keep tabs on your mom every second?"

"Watch your mouth. Stop with the 'your mom' every other sentence."

"I—"

Liu Tianxian was left speechless by him. She looked up and glared at him, and in the hazy moonlight, she looked adorably fierce.

"You know perfectly well that's not what I meant." she said.

"Just teasing you, don't take it so seriously. Of course I don't keep tabs on my mom every second." Fang Hong put his arm around her shoulder—he'd just been teasing her.

Liu Tianxian wanted to smack that cheap mouth of his, but she deflated, and leaned back on his shoulder.

Forget it—her own choice, she's used to it!

The two walked inside, and in the dim light they looked around. Fang Hong tentatively asked, "Is your mom really not home?"

"Probably not!"

Liu Tianxian wasn't sure either, but she was puzzled: "Why do you keep asking whether my mom's home or not?"

"I'm gonna lick you—don't want your mom to see."

Fang Hong said, then tightened his arm around her waist and kissed her hard. Liu Tianxian's breath was mixed with the smell of alcohol, giving a thrilling sensation.

But Fang Hong kissed her without prying her lips open, then pulled back. Looking at the Liu Tianxian before him, he ran his thumb over her rosy lips: "Let me have a lick."

"No way." Liu Tianxian playfully tilted her chin up, looking a touch adorably silly.

"Just once." Fang Hong coaxed.

"You think I'm a little girl, that easy to fool?" Liu Tianxian said.

"Didn't you say I'm always too lazy to go shopping or travel with you? Then I'll go with you." Fang Hong said with a smile.

"Really?" Liu Tianxian looked at him.

If forceful measures aren't taken, this man is generally too lazy to move — lying around at home, sitting at the office, doing nothing else.

He also rarely accompanies her to go shopping or travel, finding it too tiring, a waste of time.???? But she can't keep pushing him either.

"Really, a king's word is no jest." Fang Hong nodded.

"But I don't have time lately, wait till I'm free." Liu Tianxian said with a beaming smile.

"Valid long-term." Fang Hong said.

"Go ahead!"

Liu Tianxian stuck out her snake-like tongue, letting him taste it freely.

Fang Hong kissed her again, this time more intensely. The two embraced, walking and kissing along the way, all the way to the sofa area.

Liu Tianxian was pressed beneath him, eyes closed, feeling a hand slip under her hem and into her clothes.

Fang Hong whispered by her ear: "Can I grab?"

"Go ahead and grab." Liu Tianxian's expression was solemn, as if she'd steeled herself.

The moment she finished nodding, she let out a soft "mm," having been grabbed, and couldn't help but knit her brows.

Yet this man was very considerate, gently kissing her lips, his movements tender — this could ease her panic.

After a while, Fang Hong asked softly: "How does it feel?"

"Don't ask me that." Liu Tianxian's voice was soft and languid, a kind of affection within it. Having said that, she wrapped her arms around his neck, pressed closer, and nuzzled her face against his.

Of course it felt good to her — no panic, a kind of pleasure.

Fang Hong removed her last layer of barrier — earlier there had been one layer in between.

Liu Tianxian pressed even closer, actively kissing his mouth and his face.

The room's lighting was dim — such lighting can give a person a sense of security, but as the two lost themselves in nuzzling on the sofa, they were utterly unaware that someone was approaching.

This person stood beside the sofa, bent over and "snap" turned on the lamp on the side table, and the two's lewd behavior was instantly laid bare.

Fang Hong sensed it, jerked his head up, met a pair of deep-set eyes, his heart clenched at once, and hurriedly pulled his hand out and scrambled up from the sofa.

In his panic, he accidentally rolled off.

Liu Tianxian sensed something was wrong, tilted her head back, saw it was her own mother, and was so embarrassed she buried her head in the sofa, thinking: "I'm done for!"

Luckily they hadn't taken off their clothes — only her upper undergarment had been pulled aside by that man, but not taken off, still inside her clothes.

She secretly slipped her hand in and fixed her undergarment back in place.

Liu Xiaoli of course saw it all, just didn't say anything.

"Auntie, I still have some things at home, so I'll head off first." Fang Hong hurriedly scrambled up from the floor, turned to leave — escape this disaster first, talk later.

Whatever comes later, deal with it later.

"Hold it!" Liu Xiaoli's tone was stern.

Fang Hong stood at attention, like a misbehaving primary school student: "Auntie, what is it?"

"What's your rush? Xixi will be yours sooner or later." Liu Xiaoli was somewhat displeased inside, feeling her cabbage had been rooted out by a pig.

Any parent seeing this would feel a bit unhappy — after all, it's their own daughter, and he can't wait before they're even married.

Out of sight would be fine, but caught in the act, they have to say something.

"Yes, yes, it's my fault." Fang Hong admitted his mistake.

Liu Tianxian buried her head in the sofa playing dead — at this moment she didn't want to see anyone at all, so embarrassed.

In her heart she could only observe three seconds of silence for Fang Hong.

Seeing Fang Hong's attitude was decent, Liu Xiaoli couldn't really blow up either. Her tone softened a bit: "I'm not that unopen-minded a person. I can understand young people have needs, just no need to be that hasty — you have to keep yourselves in check appropriately."

"You're right, I'll keep it firmly in mind." Fang Hong was obedient as could be.

"Alright, go on back, it's late, be careful on the road." Liu Xiaoli gestured for him to go home.

"Then Auntie, you get some rest early."

Fang Hong glanced at Liu Tianxian — still playing dead — then turned and walked toward the door.

After he left, Liu Xiaoli "smack" slapped Liu Tianxian's bottom; the flesh on her bottom visibly rippled — quite a heavy hand.

"Have you no sense of shame?" Liu Xiaoli said.

"Mom, you hit me and it hurts." Liu Tianxian rolled over, clutching her bottom, very aggrieved.

"So what if I hit you? A girl like you — can't you be a bit more reserved?" Liu Xiaoli scolded.

"We've been together three or four years, and you want me to be reserved? If I keep being reserved, I might as well become a eunuch." Liu Tianxian clearly wasn't as obedient as Fang Hong — she knew how to talk back.

After all, it's her biological mother — whether beating or scolding, still her biological mother.

"Still have to be reserved, you two aren't married yet. What if—" Liu Xiaoli didn't finish — what if they break up.

She added: "Men, when they haven't gotten what they want, they think about it a lot, treat you well. Once they get it, they don't know how to cherish it."

Sometimes this is what she worries about — afraid of giving her daughter away, then if things go badly and they break up, that would truly be a sin, walking the same path she did.

"Fang Hong isn't that kind of person." Liu Tianxian said.

"How would you know?"

"Of course I know, I understand him very well." Liu Tianxian said with certainty.

Liu Xiaoli was momentarily talked into having no comeback — after all, she could also tell that boy wasn't that type, otherwise over New Year she wouldn't have let the two families meet, let the elders come look at the person.

She'd just spoken too hastily a moment ago.

"Hurry up and go to sleep, look what time it is." She tapped the watch on her wrist.

"Then I'll go sleep, Mom you sleep early too."

Liu Tianxian got up, saw that her mom had calmed down, felt lucky to have dodged a disaster, so she threw her arms around her mom's neck and planted a loud "smack" on her mom's cheek.

"Oh my, where did you pick up this clingy habit?" Liu Xiaoli wiped her own face, which was still wet with saliva — she had no idea whose it was.

Those two were really going at it with their kissing just now.

"Goodnight, Mom." Liu Tianxian smiled and ran upstairs.

(End of chapter)