Chapter 75: Strike First, Report Later

In November, over half a month had passed since the post-production of "33 Days After a Breakup," and on this day Fang Hong's mother, Xu Liyun, arrived in Beijing by train.

There were no high-speed trains yet, and flying made her dizzy—he remembered his mother as still very elderly, and he feared she couldn't handle it.

Fang Hong had called Liu Tianxian, who had just finished recording her song and was lounging at home petting her cat.

He claimed it was to look at apartments.

Liu Tianxian sat in the passenger seat, ruffling her messy hair and gazing out the window: "Where are we going? This isn't the way to look at apartments!"

She hadn't even combed her hair today and had just thrown on a wool coat before stepping out.

But her face was beautiful—she looked good in anything.

"I'm taking you somewhere else first. After that, we'll look at apartments," Fang Hong said.

"You're being so mysterious—aren't you planning to sell me?!" Liu Tianxian blurted out.

She spoke casually; after all, they were very familiar with each other.

"If I were to sell you, someone would have to be able to afford you—who in this world could?" Fang Hong glanced at her.

"Then what? I'm just expensive, that's all!"

Liu Tianxian smirked, glancing outside again: "Where are we going? Why are there so many people dragging luggage around?"

"The train station," Fang Hong said.

"Why are we going to the train station?" Liu Tianxian asked, confused.

Fang Hong judged the time was right and told her: "I'm picking up my mom..."

"What?!"

Liu Tianxian was startled, flustered: "Bro, you're picking up your mom—why did you bring me along?!"

What's the difference between this and bringing your future daughter-in-law?

"I just want to make my mom happy—you pretend to be my girlfriend," Fang Hong said.

"Wait, if you want a girlfriend, find someone else! You don't need me!" Liu Tianxian said, agitated.

She wasn't prepared at all—she was still in this disheveled mess, and now she had to meet his mother for the first time. She was terrified.

"I only know one beautiful woman—you. I don't know any other women. Please, just humor my mom for me," Fang Hong pleaded.

"I'm telling you, I'm here to show you apartments, not to be your girlfriend," Liu Tianxian snapped.

"I already told my mom I'm dating someone. Let me be filial," Fang Hong explained.

"Filial piety is your own business—it has nothing to do with me," Liu Tianxian retorted, pouting.

This man was unbelievable—he didn't even warn her, just pulled a "strike first, report later" move!

Fang Hong swerved the car to the roadside and stopped. "Then get out."

"Are you crazy? There are so many people outside—how am I supposed to get out? And this is my car—you should be the one getting out!" Liu Tianxian shot back.

Fang Hong unfastened his seatbelt and reached for the door handle.

Seeing his move, Liu Tianxian grabbed his arm: "Hey, where are you going?!"

"I'm leaving," Fang Hong said firmly.

Liu Tianxian had never seen this man so resolute—he'd always coddled and spoiled her before.

It unsettled her. She felt uneasy, even a little panicked.

Seeing him actually step out, she shouted: "Come back!"

Fang Hong acted as if he hadn't heard—he opened the door and got out.

"Come back here!" Liu Tianxian ordered.

But Fang Hong merely glanced at her, waved his hand, and slammed the door with a loud "Bang!"

Liu Tianxian considered chasing after him, but seeing the crowds and heavy traffic outside, she gave up.

Bastard!

She cursed under her breath, then pulled out her phone and dialed. The call connected quickly.

"Come back right now—I agree!"

The moment she finished speaking, the door was pulled open again.

Fang Hong, as if he'd been standing right beside the car, slid back into the driver's seat: "I didn't force you—you agreed on your own."

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Liu Tianxian fumed, thoroughly exasperated: "But I'm declaring this upfront—it's fake."

"That doesn't matter. I just want to make my mom happy. Consider it me asking you for a favor," Fang Hong reverted to his humble tone.

He couldn't keep being so rigid—if she really got angry, what then?

He'd only been testing her earlier—he still had the keys in his hand, and had planned to return and soothe her if things went wrong. He'd prepared two options.

"Fine, you said something decent. Since your filial piety is admirable, I'll let it go—but..."

Liu Tianxian's expression softened slightly, then paused. Fang Hong listened.

"But I'm still angry. You have to let me hit you."

She felt her authority had been challenged.

In the past, this man always coddled her, never angered her—yet now he'd suddenly grown a spine.

"Then hit me. Go ahead—hit hard."

Fang Hong didn't care—he leaned his face toward her.

Liu Tianxian raised her hand, ready to slap him—but when it came down, she only lightly brushed his cheek.

She was too affectionate, too reluctant to strike.

"Forget it, forget it—just drive!" She waved her hand dismissively.

Fang Hong looked at her: "So are you over it now?"

"Who asked you to interfere? Drive." Liu Tianxian raised her voice slightly.

Fang Hong didn't provoke her, started the car, and moved forward again.

There were only a few steps left; Fang Hong parked the car in the train station parking lot, took out a pair of sunglasses, and placed them on Liu Tianxian's head: "Wait here. I'll be right back."

Wearing sunglasses is to avoid being recognized and surrounded!

"Mm!"

Liu Tianxian's face was expressionless as she adjusted the sunglasses.

She was still quite nervous inside—after all, it was her first time!

Fang Hong took out another pair of sunglasses, zipped up his coat, then got out of the car.

After he got out, Liu Tianxian quickly pulled down the sun visor above her head—it had a makeup mirror.

She combed her hair in the mirror, studied her face, noticed her lips were peeling, and began tearing off the flaking skin.

I should've put on makeup before leaving—how can I show up like this?

"Squeak!"

The car door suddenly swung open; Liu Tianxian caught a glimpse of the person out of the corner of her eye and frantically slammed the sun visor back up.

She froze her expression, pretending nothing had happened.

"Stop tearing—it's natural beauty."

Fang Hong brought a scarf and closed the car door again.

"Mind your own business—I'm tearing anyway."

Liu Tianxian muttered at the car door, then pulled down the sun visor again.

On the train station square, many passersby hurried by, dragging suitcases or carrying large and small bundles.

They carried the exhaustion of journeys from south to north!

Fang Hong hurried toward the train station's exit—this time of day was roughly when his mother would get off.

The exit was crowded, but Fang Hong spotted Xu Liyun at once, wearing a plain cotton jacket.

His mother looked much younger now—she was barely over forty—but her clothes and style made her seem older.

"Mom!"

Fang Hong called out and rushed forward to help carry her luggage and packages.

Xu Liyun heard the call, turned her head, and saw a tall figure already standing before her—she beamed with joy.

She hadn't seen her son in a long time; it was only natural she was happy.

Seeing her son shoulder the heavy bags, she hurried to say: "Don't carry so much—I'll take some."

"It's fine—I drove here, just ahead not far," Fang Hong said.

These items were heavy—all luggage, equivalent to moving, since Xu Liyun would now live here and likely rarely return.

His mother had worked away from home for years; their family ties had faded, especially after his father's death—his father's side of the family stopped visiting.

After her own parents passed away, her side of the family also gradually drifted apart!

"Xiao Hong, you said on the phone you brought a girlfriend—where is she?" Xu Liyun looked around.

"In the car—she's a celebrity, it's not appropriate," Fang Hong said.