Chapter 97: Betraying Each Other

The two chatted for a while, then returned to the cabin — the wind out here was really too strong, making it hard for them to catch up.

It was just around noon, and the two had never gone out together before, so they headed to the Western restaurant for Western food.

As for Yu Xian, who cares about him!

They sat facing each other; the dishes hadn't arrived yet. Liu Tianxian propped her chin on her hand and looked at the man across from her with clear eyes: "What made you think of going to Hollywood to shoot a movie? Not filming in the country anymore?"

"I'm still filming there. I just sent Yu Xian over here, and once I've helped him settle in, I'll go back. From now on he'll film movies for me over here, and we'll develop both sides together." Fang Hong said.

"Oh, I see."

Liu Tianxian gave a small nod, treating it like a second venture: "The United States is unfamiliar territory, and it's not easy to shoot movies there."

It really wasn't easy for Chinese people to get work going over there.

"Let's give it a try! The domestic market doesn't make money." Fang Hong said.

The domestic film and TV market was immature — piracy hadn't been fully stamped out, and distribution channels were few. The United States market was big, with many distribution channels.

In the United States, box office was only one way to make money; there were plenty of other channels.

"Oh, you should still take it easy, don't take too big a step." Liu Tianxian advised.

The United States wasn't like the domestic market — casually shooting a low-budget film cost millions of US dollars, which compared to the domestic side was tens of millions!

An ordinary person simply couldn't bear it; one loss would wipe out everything he'd earned last year, and he'd still have to make up the difference out of pocket.

"I know!" Fang Hong nodded.

Just then the dishes arrived. Liu Tianxian introduced: "This is filet steak, the texture is great, you should like it."

After saying that, she looked around: "Hey, where's your friend Yu Xian?"

She still remembered that guy who'd wanted to chase her!

"Don't bother with him, he'll sort himself out."

Fang Hong picked up the knife and fork and felt very out of his element.

Right now Yu Xian was having the time of his life, no time to come eat — mainly because he'd gotten some money and, somehow, let a young lady handle things for him.

"You don't even care about your friend? That's too heartless of you!"

Liu Tianxian cut the steak with very elegant movements, cutting a small piece and putting it in her mouth to chew slowly.

She always ate very delicately, like a lady from a good family.

"You don't understand."

Fang Hong hacked at the steak with all his might, squeaking away for ages without cutting through it: "Is this knife blunt or what, damn—"

"You're not supposed to cut it like that, let me do it for you."

Liu Tianxian stood up, used her own fork to hold his steak in place, then sliced it open with two strokes of the knife and held it up to his mouth: "Going abroad like this, aren't you afraid you'll starve to death?"

"Won't starve — isn't that what I have you for?" Fang Hong took a bite, juice filling his mouth, the texture silky.

"Just eat, will you, so much talk."

Liu Tianxian cut him another piece and stuffed it in his mouth, then sat back down: "You've never been abroad before?"

"No." Fang Hong hadn't been abroad in his previous life either.

Going abroad was a very distant thing for ordinary people!

"Then you need to get out more — there's a lot to see out there." Liu Tianxian suggested.

"We'll see how it goes." Fang Hong said.

Having an agent overseas was enough; the main thing was still to run his base well.

The two ate and chatted, and Fang Hong still looked like a butterfingers!

Liu Tianxian couldn't stand it any longer, pulled his plate over, and cut the steak piece by piece for him — just like a good wife and mother.

"Xiao Feifei, you're really too good." Fang Hong was moved.

Liu Tianxian shot him a look, pointed her fork at him: "Be serious, you're not allowed to call me that."

After saying that, she stuffed another piece of beef in his mouth!

The feeling Liu Tianxian had when she first met Fang Hong had already faded; her heart had calmed down a lot.

Still, having this man by her side, she felt quite grateful — you could tell how good a person was just from their words and deeds.

In the distance, Yu Xian saw the two of them feeding each other in their loving display, and immediately felt as sick as if he'd swallowed a pile of dog food.

He walked over and said: "You two eat without calling me?"

"We were going to call you, but Fang Hong said not to bother, so we didn't." Liu Tianxian sold Fang Hong out.

Then she calmly pushed the plate back in front of him.

Yu Xian immediately wasn't happy. He sat down next to Fang Hong, squeezed him over, and lowered his voice: "Are we still brothers or not?"

"It's precisely because I treat you as a brother that I didn't call you." Fang Hong's voice was also low.

"How so?"

"Being a third wheel doesn't feel good — go back and sleep, once you're asleep you don't have to think about anything." Fang Hong advised.

"Damn it, I want to be the third wheel."

Listening to his pretentious talk, Yu Xian felt as sick as if he'd swallowed a fly.

"Then suit yourself. Anyway, you've seen it all — if you want to eat dog food, I won't stop you."

Fang Hong finished speaking, forked up a piece of steak, and fed it to Liu Tianxian in a sickeningly sweet voice: "Xiao Feifei, come, let me feed you."

Liu Tianxian saw this disgustingly mushy gesture and was quite speechless — she'd just warned him not to call her that.

Still, she gently parted her red lips and bit down, giving him face in front of others for the moment. If she'd refused, Fang Hong would have lost all face.

She'd deal with him afterward — same thing!

"You're ruthless!"

Yu Xian secretly gave Fang Hong a thumbs-up. Stealing the goddess away and still showing off so arrogantly — could he stand for this?

"Don't talk nonsense—call her sister-in-law from now on, got it?" Fang Hong said smugly.

"I won't. You two aren't even together yet—everyone still has a chance," Yu Xian insisted, though his heart felt hollow.

The goddess is going to be a wife? Just thinking about it hurt.

Fang Hong shoved him aside. "Get lost. A toad dreaming of swan meat? Look in a mirror."

All you think about is how to give massages!

Liu Tianxian, seeing they'd chatted enough, called out: "What do you want to eat? Order anything!"

"Thank you!"

Yu Xian was genuinely moved—the goddess was treating him to food again.

But this time he didn't indulge in fantasies—he had self-awareness now. He knew Liu Tianxian could never like him, could never give him a chance.

Earlier, he'd just been pretending to be defiant.

"Hey, what movie are you two shooting in the United States?" Liu Tianxian asked casually.

"Horror film. Oh, and porn—Fang Hong says foreigners love this kind of stuff!" Yu Xian began his revenge.

Hearing "porn," Liu Tianxian's face dropped immediately—she was furious.

Fang Hong wanted to punch Yu Xian twice. He had no sense at all. "Don't listen to him—he's lying. I didn't shoot it. I just suggested he make it."

Liu Tianxian glared at him. If you weren't the one planning it, how could Yu Xian shoot it? You're the one deciding what to film!

Fang Hong realized his explanation sounded weak, so he just shut up.

But Yu Xian kept stoking the fire: "He even said porn needs a touch of masochism to be good—like tying up the female lead and whipping her. That's what makes it exciting, boosts box office."

Now he wasn't afraid anymore. He wasn't chasing Liu Tianxian anyway—just chatting like a friend, having fun was enough.

Liu Tianxian's face turned red. She could picture the scene: the female lead stripped bare, tied up, whipped, wax dripped on her.

His imagination was truly rich.

But it wasn't just foreigners who loved this kind of film—everyone in the world did. How could this man's brain be built this way? Filming such stuff overseas!

Fang Hong couldn't take it anymore. He tapped the table. "Can you just eat?"

"I'm eating," Yu Xian said carelessly.

He'd become more talkative, his skin thicker.

Understandable—he'd been around, had his fun, now he was different!

"Don't listen to him. I only suggested it—I never acted on it. Besides, I never watch this stuff. Too shallow," Fang Hong told Liu Tianxian.

Yu Xian noticed Fang Hong's expression had turned serious. "Yeah, just talk. He never watches this stuff—I swear."

Don't play too hard—once you go too far, it's bad.

If you break them up, your sin will be great. Fang Hong probably used great effort to chase Liu Tianxian.

Besides, he hadn't mentioned their massage thing. That kind of thing might offend a woman—shared secrets were enough.

"No need to explain. Shoot whatever you want—I don't care," Liu Tianxian said lightly.

But her gaze at Fang Hong was off—filled with reproach.

Yu Xian had lit the fire and walked away, leaving Fang Hong to smooth things over. Who else but him had stolen the goddess? He didn't even invite him to dinner, and now he was showing off.

Fang Hong sighed.

Just now Liu Tianxian betrayed him; now Yu Xian had betrayed him too—betrayed by both his brother and his woman.

His heart ached. Life felt unbearable.

Seeing Fang Hong's expression, Liu Tianxian found it amusing. She changed the subject, knowing when to stop—though she occasionally shot him angry glares to show her displeasure.

Fang Hong dared not speak. He'd wait until they were alone—to soothe her, when no one else was around.

After dinner, Liu Tianxian headed to her room. Fang Hong wanted to follow, but she blocked him—he knew exactly what he wanted.

But right now, she didn't want to hear what he had to say.

She wasn't truly angry. Getting mad over a movie with a bit of erotic content? That'd be too petty.

"You fucking bastard—I paid you for a massage, and you do this to me."

In the room, on the bed, Fang Hong pinned Yu Xian down and gripped his throat.

He didn't squeeze hard—just venting.

"Didn't I cover for you later? Why blame me?" Yu Xian didn't care.

"That's covering? You'd have been better off staying quiet."

"How can I do that? I've got to raise the difficulty for you! Otherwise your life's too perfect—she's the goddess! How many people dream of her? They can't even imagine it," Yu Xian said shamelessly.

"We're not even together yet. Our feelings aren't stable," Fang Hong released him, slapped his ass, and sat aside.

"No way? I thought you two were already together—you fed each other, you were so close," Yu Xian said, surprised.

If they weren't together, this joke had gone too far.

"You only saw it today. Before, we always kept our distance," Fang Hong admitted.

"Then why didn't you tell me sooner?" Yu Xian sat up, realizing he'd played too hard.

"I'm telling you now—Liu Tianxian's been getting online abuse. Don't joke with her, especially about emotions."

Fang Hong cared deeply, continuing: "She came out just to relax, to relieve her stress."

She'd already been hurt once. If she got hurt again, it'd be worse.

Hearing this, Yu Xian remembered the massive online abuse she'd suffered before.

(End of Chapter)