Chapter 596: Going Head-to-Head with Boss Wang

At the moment Liu Tianxian won the Best Actress at the Temple of Heaven Award at the Beijing Film Festival, she quickly shot to the top of the trending searches.

#Liu Tianxian Wins Temple of Heaven Best Actress! #

When other people win awards, there's barely a ripple, but the moment she wins one, it hits the trending searches and makes a lot of people aware of this award.

Some people didn't know this award, found it very unfamiliar, had never even heard of it, but Liu Tianxian greatly boosted its name recognition.

Almost no one said Liu Tianxian winning this award was shady, unfair, or that her acting wasn't good enough, because in Wangyi's eyes it was just a minor award with no name recognition.

Still, fans were proud that Liu Tianxian could win this award.

"Xixi's amazing!"

"Congrats Xixi!"

Comments like these flooded beneath every Wenzhang reporting on Liu Tianxian's award win, as well as on her Weibo.

The Beijing Film Festival continued handing out awards, and Gravity took home Best Special Effects, awarded to Yao Qi.

He was the special effects director of that film.

But Best Director went to Wolf Totem's French director, Jacques Annaud.

Even though it was a bad film, they couldn't give it to Gravity again—if they did, there'd be nothing left for the other films.

So the Principal had to swallow his pride this time, better luck next time!

This is also why the Beijing Film Festival doesn't get much attention—it's just handing out participation trophies, no one cares.

You have to know, Wolf Totem was roasted by audiences as a bad film!

Soon this award ceremony ended, and on the internet, apart from a few media outlets reporting on Liu Tianxian, basically no one was discussing this award.

It was as if the audience had completely ignored it—just like that.

If Liu Tianxian hadn't come, there wouldn't have been much attention at all, barely any coverage.

That evening, Liu Tianxian hugged the Trophy home and set it on a cabinet—a cabinet custom-made for this purpose, displaying all the various trophies the two of them had won over the years.

Actually, Fang Hong had won awards too, all minor ones, but he just didn't go to collect them himself; someone brought them back for him.

"Amazing, another award." Fang Hong wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.

"Of course, and don't forget who I am—I was competing against filmmakers from all over the world. You better step it up!" Liu Tianxian said proudly, reaching up to pat his head.

"Working harder is too tiring, I can't keep up with your pace anymore." Fang Hong smiled, burying his head in her neck, kissing the skin there.

Liu Tianxian tilted her neck, feeling the warmth of the affection against her skin.

"Nonsense." As if remembering something, she added: "Hey, let me tell you, the General Manager said some things to me today?"

"Said what? Threatened you?" Fang Hong said casually.

"How did you know?" Liu Tianxian was surprised—he'd guessed it already.

"Besides threats, what else can they do? They've run out of tricks. I'm acquiring Bona, they're trembling, they're scared, so all they can do is threaten an ignorant woman like you." Fang Hong said.

"Who's the ignorant woman?"

Liu Tianxian patted his head, "I gave them a firm counterattack, I said no one can make us retreat, we must march forward firmly, and keep marching forward!"

"Wow, you really said that?" Fang Hong raised his head, looking somewhat surprised.

That didn't sound like something Liu Tianxian would say!

"Of course, I also said, the interests we won back were earned by ourselves, not given by anyone, we're not afraid of competition, we'll fight to the end." Liu Tianxian said with passionate fervor.

"Not bad, not bad, Boss Liu rises." Fang Hong praised.

"I definitely have to support you. When others oppose you, I definitely have to push back for you." Liu Tianxian tilted her head, her gaze resolute.

"Oh, hearing you say that, I feel like I've gained boundless strength, my fighting spirit is soaring." Fang Hong got so excited he kissed her several times in a row.

This made Liu Tianxian chuckle "hehe" and say: "I didn't do anything? Don't get so worked up!"

The acquisition of Bona was all planned by this man himself, done step by step by him, even the funding was raised by him.

Although she knew, she didn't offer any help!

"No, you did, you did a lot, you did things no one else could—encouraged me, supported me, that was the greatest help to me, giving me infinite motivation." Fang Hong said with gusto.

"Did I really have that big an effect?" Liu Tianxian asked.

"Yes, there's a saying—fighting alone, meaning an isolated army fighting the enemy alone, no coordination, no cooperation, no support, that's very dangerous, they might get wiped out by the enemy.

Then there's another saying—working with one heart, that's exactly the state we're in."

Fang Hong's explanation was fairly vivid.

This time Liu Tianxian really did give a lot of help—unwavering spiritual support.

"Meaning I didn't hold you back, right." Liu Tianxian understood what he meant.

"The phrase 'holding back' isn't elegant, doesn't sound nice, I still prefer 'working with one heart.'"

"Honk honk honk, I like that too."

Liu Tianxian laughed happily, turned around to face him.

The two locked eyes, both full of affection. Fang Hong tightened his grip on her waist and kissed her in one swift motion.

Liu Tianxian pressed her body against his, kissing him back—after all, she hadn't been home for almost a month, she missed him too.

The two were very passionate, full of intensity.

"I'm flying to France tonight to continue filming Lucy 2." Liu Tianxian took advantage of the break to gently stroke his face.

"Huh? That soon?" Fang Hong was surprised, he'd thought she was staying the night.

"Yeah, the Macau scenes are done, the crew has all moved to France, if I don't go we can't shoot." Liu Tianxian's cheeks were flushed, her breath coming in small gasps.

Lucy 2 is basically all the female lead's scenes, she needs to stay with the crew at all times.

"Alright then! I'll see you off." Fang Hong understood.

"There's still some time, we can be quick." Liu Tianxian glanced down at her wristwatch.

"How much longer?" Fang Hong asked.

"Counting travel time, if there's no traffic, half an hour if we move fast." Liu Tianxian estimated.

"What can you even do in half an hour? You know me." Fang Hong tossed out this line.

"Don't you usually only last a few minutes?" Liu Tianxian looked at him, looking somewhat puzzled — normally this man was only about ten minutes or so.

"Who said that? Don't talk nonsense." Fang Hong put on a serious face.

Liu Tianxian looked at his stubborn look and wanted to laugh.

Late at night, Fang Hong drove Liu Tianxian to Jingcheng International Airport, along with an assistant and bodyguards.

"Be good at home and wait for me to come back. Don't you dare misbehave — I'll call to check on you anytime." Liu Tianxian put on her hat, her tone carrying a bit of coquettish sweetness.

"Yes, ma'am." Fang Hong gave her a salute.

Liu Tianxian leaned over and kissed his lips, then pinched his nose, smiled dotingly, and got out of the car.

Taking the flight at night meant she'd arrive in France right at dawn tomorrow. Liu Tianxian had arranged the timing well — she was always flying around anyway.

That's just the nature of this job — nothing you can do about it!

The Beijing Film Festival didn't generate much buzz; the matter of Bona being acquired remained the entertainment circle and media's top concern.

Liu Tianxian's public support of Fang Hong at the Beijing Film Festival signaled their determination to acquire Bona — no retreat, fight to the end.

It also made many realize Bona probably couldn't escape this time!

Bosses from Enlight and Huayi came out one after another to voice their views and condemn, saying the Principal's behavior was wrong.

Lao Wang Zong couldn't hold back either, publicly criticizing the Principal on a show: "The Principal is expanding blindly — his behavior is extremely dangerous."

"Whether it's dangerous or not is my own business, nothing to do with anyone else. Those who have nothing to do with it, please shut up." Fang Hong responded, clashing head-on with Lao Wang Zong for the first time.

He might not respond when others spoke up, but when Lao Wang Zong spoke, he had to respond.

Only because the two were on the same level.

The two big shots going at each other sent the media into a frenzy: "The Principal clashed head-on with Lao Wang Zong and told him to shut up!"

Such headline articles flooded in everywhere. Wangyi were ecstatic too, grabbing their stools, getting their sunflower seeds ready — time to snack on the drama!

It had been a long time since things were this lively.

Previously, the Bona acquisition was only something people in the industry cared about and discussed; outside Wangyi weren't paying much attention — to them it was just a company.

But the two big bosses going at each other got Wangyi very excited, and became a favorite topic of conversation.

"The Principal is badass — daring to clash head-on with Lao Wang Zong!"

Soon Xiao Wang couldn't sit still. To defend his old man, he publicly cursed: "The Principal built his fortune on copying and still won't admit it — I'm impressed. Pushing through and refusing to admit it — truly impressed."

This made things even more interesting — father and son teaming up, trading barbs with the Principal.

But no one responded to him. Fang Hong wouldn't respond to him — what status was that? The more you responded, the more fired up he'd get.

But online it was extremely lively. Wangyi grew more and more excited, demanding the Principal step up.

Actually, these two sides could only trade barbs for now. Although there was competition, it hadn't reached the point of erupting — both were holding back and restraining themselves.

Wanda needed Jade Rabbit's films, because only Jade Rabbit's films drew big crowds and lots of viewers. If they rashly restricted screenings, they'd have to prepare for a prolonged war.

So many theaters — without foot traffic, the daily costs were no small sum.

So Wanda was now constantly seeking out films.

Take "Diors Man" — they managed to push it to over a billion. This film Jade Rabbit only had a small investment in.

It was Chen Zhixi who invested — it was Da Peng's own project.

It wasn't really a film — just a gimmick of gathering all the stars together to sell nostalgia.

This kind of film can't be copied, because there's no plot for you to copy. Even if you copied its plot, they could just use a different plot.

What the audience watched wasn't the plot — it was nostalgia, it was giving face to Da Peng. "Diors Man" had accumulated too many fans for him, and these fans converted into box office contributors.

So this film's success wasn't the film's doing!

Wanda now was constantly seeking out such emerging people with film ideas and supporting them.

In hopes of breaking through Jade Rabbit's dominance on the production end — like the previous "Road to Surprise," which was invested in by Wanda.

Just as public opinion was at fever pitch, Zhang Hongsen called Fang Hong, asking him how he planned to handle Bona.

If the plan was to merge Bona into Jade Rabbit, that wouldn't do!

(End of chapter)