Chapter 689: The Ultimate Power of the Human World

Liu Tianxian sat on a chair, legs spread apart, her posture somewhat unrestrained—she could only sit this way.

Fang Hong squatted by her feet, massaging her legs; if he didn't massage them, her feet would swell—this was basic daily care.

Every evening, he also rubbed pregnancy oil onto her belly to prevent stretch marks after childbirth.

"I wonder if he'll be healthy after he's born," Liu Tianxian murmured, stroking her belly, looking worried.

"He's definitely healthy—the doctor checked everything," Fang Hong said.

"I've heard so many babies are born with mental problems, turn into lunatics—if our child turns out like that, will you abandon him?" Liu Tianxian asked.

"How could I? Don't be so anxious," Fang Hong pressed firmly on her legs.

Lately, for some reason, Liu Tianxian kept worrying whether their child would be born missing limbs or have mental issues.

It was probably because she'd been scrolling too much online, constantly reading about troubled pregnant women and babies.

After reading them, she'd always find herself identifying with them.

"I'm saying hypothetically," Liu Tianxian's tone grew sharper.

"No, even if he's a lunatic, we can make sure he's fed and clothed for life! He doesn't need to work or flatter anyone, right?" Fang Hong said.

"Who told you to call our child a lunatic!" Liu Tianxian slapped his head.

"Didn't you bring it up?" Fang Hong protested.

"When did I ever say our child is a lunatic? Wuh-wuh-wuh!" Liu Tianxian suddenly burst into loud sobs.

"Alright, alright, it's my fault, my fault," Fang Hong hurriedly patted her back to comfort her.

At that moment, Xu Liyun hurried over from afar, holding a coat; seeing her daughter-in-law crying, she rushed forward: "What's wrong? Don't cry, don't cry."

"He said our child is a lunatic!" Liu Tianxian pointed at Fang Hong.

"I—"

Fang Hong pointed at himself—truly speechless.

Pregnant women really are bizarrely bewildering—how he missed the pre-pregnancy Liu Tianxian!

Xu Liyun draped the coat over Liu Tianxian to keep her from catching a chill, then slapped Fang Hong on the shoulder: "What are you talking about?"

Fang Hong had no choice but to take it.

Liu Xiaoli also came over to check; seeing the scene, she couldn't help smiling, silently mourning her son-in-law.

"It's fine—pregnancy is like this, in waves. It'll pass. I felt the same when I was pregnant with her," she comforted him.

"I'm fine, I'm used to it," Fang Hong shook his head and smiled.

"Good," Liu Xiaoli nodded.

"Ding-ding-ding!" The phone suddenly rang; Fang Hong pulled it out and glanced.

"Look, he's answering the phone again—definitely going out to work, doesn't even want to stay with me," Liu Tianxian accused, wiping her tears.

In truth, she didn't even know what she was doing herself.

"Is your work really that important? Can't you stay home and spend more time with Xixi!" Xu Liyun said to Fang Hong.

"I'm not going out—it's Lao Wang Zong calling. Fine, I won't answer," Fang Hong said, then hung up without further explanation.

"I didn't force you, you know!" Liu Tianxian cooed.

"It's not you forcing me—it's my own choice. I choose to stay with you till the end of time, till the seas dry and the mountains crumble, through five hundred years of wind, five hundred years of sun, waiting till you walk across that stone bridge," Fang Hong said.

Liu Tianxian laughed, her tears drying instantly.

On the other end, Lao Wang Zong stared at his phone, utterly baffled, muttering into it: "This kid's getting too bold—he's not even answering my calls."

So he called again.

Fang Hong's phone rang once more; seeing it was Lao Wang Zong again, he was about to hang up.

"Answer it if there's something important," Liu Xiaoli warned, fearing it might delay his work—her daughter was just being emotional and would calm down soon.

"Got it!" Fang Hong picked up the phone and stepped aside.

Liu Tianxian said nothing, instead chatting with her mother and Xu Liyun, talking only about childcare—she was pregnant, and the whole family was catering to her.

Still, her mood had improved—she was just being clingy with Fang Hong, seeking attention.

"Manager Wang, what's the matter?" Fang Hong answered.

"I want to know how far you plan to go," Lao Wang Zong cut straight to the point.

"I already said—help him clean up the mess," Fang Hong replied.

"That's enough. The lesson's been given. Let's call it quits—for my sake," Lao Wang Zong said dismissively.

"What face do you have? We're competitors—you stole my director, restricted my film screenings—do you think I don't know?" Fang Hong said.

"I can compromise on our personal matters. Just let go of my son," Lao Wang Zong said bluntly.

"This isn't about you compromising. I said it before: he can insult me, but not my wife, not my family."

"Wait—how can you be so clueless after all these years? Don't you understand what I've been doing? Who am I settling scores with?"

Fang Hong spoke with frustration, thinking the man should finally grasp why he'd fought so hard for so long.

The three women on the other side, hearing him curse, glanced over.

Lao Wang Zong, publicly called senile, felt his pride sting—but for his son, he was willing to sacrifice his dignity.

Yet he quickly guessed: "Liu Tianxian?"

Fang Hong fell silent—his meaning was clear.

"Are you really going to destroy my son's company just for her? Isn't that going too far?" Lao Wang Zong asked.

"You've gone all out to pave the way for your son to take over—willing to give him everything. Can't I, too, settle scores for my wife? At heart, we all strive and fight for our families—what's the difference?"

"If someone humiliated your son, would you not retaliate? Of course you would. I'm just doing something perfectly normal."

Lao Wang Zong couldn't help laughing—he had a point, and he'd found a justification for his own actions.

But fundamentally, his son had brought this on himself—why provoke such a man?

"Principal, just say straight out what you want. Only then will this matter be considered over," he said.

"It's very simple. As long as your son is willing to humble himself, come bow and pour tea for my wife, I can pretend this never happened." Fang Hong was certain Xiao Wang couldn't do it.

"That would be too much to ask of my son. Is there any other way?" Lao Wang Zong knew his son's temperament—wild and unruly, with a strong sense of pride. How could he possibly bow?

"No, there's only this one path. And the scene of him bowing and pouring tea needs to be photographed, spread online for everyone to enjoy." Fang Hong's move was undoubtedly trampling Xiao Wang's face into the dirt.

He'd been so arrogant and high and mighty in front of Wangyi. If the scene of him bowing and pouring tea for Liu Tianxian were exposed, he'd definitely be mocked and ridiculed by Wangyi.

His standing would be dragged down a notch, a clown before the public.

"Then that's even more impossible." Lao Wang Zong knew his son would never agree—his son still cared deeply about face.

"Then there's nothing I can do. I gave him a chance, and he won't take it. You'll have to clean up the mess for him." Fang Hong's tone turned indifferent.

"If you insist on this, then I can only say sorry to you." Lao Wang Zong said.

"You mean you're going to wage an all-out war against me?" Fang Hong understood.

"You can understand it that way. You should also understand that I am a father." Lao Wang Zong spoke with deep feeling.

In truth, he wasn't all that confident fighting the Principal either. The Principal's wings were now full—nothing like two or three years ago.

Yutu had just finalized an agreement with Shanghai Xingyi to acquire their cinema chain. Combined with earlier ones, Yutu Cinema's theater count had reached over 250, with more than two thousand screens.

Of course, there was still a certain gap with Wanda. Wanda had also been developing these past years—their cinema scale had reached over 340 theaters, with a total of more than three thousand screens.

But Yutu had Chang'e and Rabbit Ticket. The three combined gave them a marketing and distribution system more mature than Wanda's, achieving full coverage both online and offline.

Wanda only had the advantage offline. All these years they'd been trying to develop online without success. However, they could pull in Alibaba to make up for that shortcoming. Lao Wang had a very good relationship with Jack Ma—in his past life, he'd helped him out with money.

In any case, once the fight started, Fang Hong wouldn't have it easy, and Lao Wang Zong wouldn't either.

"I understand you, but you can't possibly defeat me. I can keep grinding against you." Fang Hong wasn't afraid of the other side—it was nothing but a war of attrition.

"How are you going to grind against me? Your Chang'e Technology only needs one sector to collapse and the whole thing goes down. Games are heavily affected by policy. Yutu Film doesn't make money—how long can you keep it up? You think those 200-plus theaters are easy to maintain? Just buying them back and that's it?"

"You should know that overseas I'm also the number one cinema chain operator. If I really wanted to clash with you, you wouldn't be where you are today." Lao Wang Zong struck a pose, talking as if the Principal's rise was the result of him holding back.

When Fang Hong was first starting out, these cinema chain operators didn't have that much say. It was only these past few years of market-oriented reform that let them run wild.

Back then, local authorities controlled the theaters, and capital didn't have that much influence.

"Fine. This time don't hold back. I really want to test my own weight and see what you can do to me." Fang Hong showed no weakness either.

At most he'd fight Wanda for a year. Next year would bring the iron fist.

As for Lao Wang Zong's claim that Chang'e would collapse and Yutu would collapse—that simply wouldn't happen. As long as Douyin could hold steady, everything could be revived.

Even if Yutu didn't make money, Chang'e Video could still support it.

The two naturally parted on bad terms. After Lao Wang Zong hung up the phone, his emotions finally stirred. He slammed the table with a "bang," as if he had made a great resolution.

He'd originally just wanted to make the Principal back down in the face of difficulty. This time, though, he had no choice but to enter the fray. He couldn't just watch his son be bullied by the Principal like this.

Not only would his career be destroyed in an instant, he'd also be trampled underfoot by that couple, losing all dignity—all for his son.

For his wife, this fight was all for his own family, for the person he loved!

It is said that "love" is the ultimate power in this world.

Liu Tianxian watched Fang Hong put away his phone and come back: "What did Lao Wang Zong say?"

"He wants to fight an evenly-matched battle against me for his son. I accepted." Fang Hong said it as if it were nothing.

These words made Liu Xiaoli and Liu Tianxian exchange a glance, their hearts shaken. How had it escalated to this?

Lao Wang Zong was no ordinary opponent—he was a giant, occupying the position of richest man.

(End of chapter)