Generation Z Artists

Chapter 129 Absurd Operations

"Young Master Fang, no!!!"

Just as the two were only two meters apart, Zhao Guanghua suddenly pounced from behind and grabbed Fang Xinghe's waist tightly.

This guy was Fang Xinghe's host, and also served as a kind of "monitor," so he accompanied him throughout the entire process.

He wasn't originally supposed to be involved in today's business activities, but he still took on the role of driver and guide, spending the whole day driving around the shops.

Just at this crucial moment, they blocked Fang Xinghe's path... no, behind him.

However, with his flabby and bloated physique, how could he possibly stop the God of War Fang?
Fang Xinghe instinctively struggled forward, and the guy was immediately dragged down and fell face-first onto the stage.

Even so, he still didn't let go, clinging tightly to Fang Xinghe's leg.

Feeling that irresistible brute force, the research department's evaluation of Fang Xinghe's personality flashed through his mind—wild, fierce, and reckless in his actions—and he was so frightened that he burst into tears on the spot.

"Brother, dear brother, ancestors! You can't fight! You absolutely can't fight!"

He wasn't worried about what would happen if Fang Xinghe got beaten up, but rather that he might kill the American soldiers on the other side—a true Wudang master who could break solid wood sofas with a shake, once he got angry, crippling a few old soldiers would be a piece of cake.

While howling like a pig being slaughtered, Zhao Guanghua yelled at the nearby security guards, "What the hell are you looking at? Stop them!"

The security guards snapped out of their daze and immediately formed a human wall in front of the soldiers, blocking their path to the stage.

Immediately afterwards, Fang Xinghe's senior brothers also squeezed through the crowd to the vicinity, firmly blocking their way.

These American soldiers, unaware that they had narrowly escaped death, were shouting insults at Fang Xinghe through the human wall, spewing out all sorts of vulgarities.

Fang Xinghe took a step forward, feeling extremely difficult—the 180-pound fat man under his feet was pressed firmly against the carpet, the friction was so great that it would be difficult for anyone to move a foot.

He put his hands on his hips, glanced down at Zhao Guanghua, and sighed helplessly, "Damn it, I was hoping to give you guys a big story..."

"Huh?" Zhao Guanghua looked up in surprise. "What?"

In the chaos, he couldn't hear anything.

Fang Xinghe waved his hand: "It's nothing, let go of me, we can't fight anymore."

His original plan was to give the other side a hard thrashing, then hide in the embassy and watch them get desperate.

According to international practice, in cases like this, the three parties usually wrestle the issue slowly, and it is eventually resolved discreetly.

As long as the other side isn't dead or crippled, Mom will be overjoyed to protect her child.

In the end, the weaker party suffers the most—caught between two powerful nations, slapped on the left and right, caught in the middle.

Unfortunately, Zhao Guanghua reacted too quickly, which was a disappointment.

With someone blocking his way, he couldn't "legitimately defend himself and retaliate," so the Martial God's spirits plummeted, while the Movie Emperor's spirits returned to normal.

He crouched down and looked kindly at the thin man: "Are you alright? Is anything bothering you? You'll need to get a thorough check-up later. I'll definitely help you get an explanation for this!"

The guy was so moved that his eyes turned red and he was emitting red light all over his body.

She choked back tears and said, "No, it's nothing, I just bumped into something and it hurts a little... Fang Shen, thank you, you have such a strong sense of justice!"

He couldn't think of any other words for a moment, so he came up with "sense of justice".

If he weren't in his Oscar-winning mode, Fang Xinghe would have burst out laughing—Dude, you want to cause trouble for the Singapore government and get on the front page, why are you being so genuine?

However, instead of laughing, his expression became even more genuine as he solemnly declared, "You're my fan, and you came here because of me. I can't just stand by and watch you be bullied like this!"

"it is good!"

Suddenly, a burst of cheers erupted from the surrounding area. The people of Singapore clapped and criticized the American soldiers, their Chinese and English mixed together, forming a surging tide.

Seeing that the security guards and bodyguards had separated the soldiers, they were able to do it again.

This scene looks quite ironic, but what does it have to do with Brother Fang? As long as he harvests star points, he doesn't care whether the people of Singapore are fragile or arrogant.

They're not family, so who's going to sympathize with you?

But the award-winning actor will definitely perform his role to the best of his ability.

He squatted by the stage, glanced up at the American soldier who was still making a scene, his eyes were indifferent, and the corners of his mouth were slightly curled. Under the filming of the CCTV camera on the side, he suddenly slapped the handsome face of the man from Singapore.

"How outrageous! A sovereign and independent nation like Singapore is allowed to act so arrogantly by a group of foreigners. Sigh..."

A sigh of melancholy, like a knife, pierced the hearts of everyone around.

In an instant, many people were filled with indignation, while others lowered their heads in shame, overwhelmed with mixed feelings and inexplicable grief and anger.

Zhao Guanghua had just gotten up, still shaken and disheveled, when he heard those words, everything suddenly went black again.

Dad! You're my real dad! Stop your supernatural powers right now!

OK, OK, I've got it.

The small conflict has escalated to the point it has reached, which is just right.

Although it wasn't as satisfying as actually defeating them, it saved a lot of trouble and didn't delay the rest of the trip.

It's like getting all the benefits and avoiding all the drawbacks – a huge profit.

So Fang Xinghe stopped resisting Zhao Guanghua's enticements, turned around and went back into the shop, quickly packed his things, and then took a car back to the hotel.

As soon as we arrived at the hotel, an official finally appeared.

An officer from the Public Security Bureau came over and politely asked him if the video footage taken today could be deleted.

Fang Xinghe replied politely, "Those aren't my people, they're from CCTV's production team. Why don't you go ask them?"

CCTV has a strong foundation and can withstand the pressure.

As expected, Wang Bin replied politely, "I'm sorry, but I believe we have the freedom of the press to take photos in public."

The other person looked distressed, completely at a loss for what to do.

Later that day, people from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs came to the hotel, but at that moment, the counselor from the Chinese Embassy in Singapore was also invited to the hotel as a guest—a perfect match, wasn't it?

The other party's attitude finally became warmer, and accompanied by the president of the publishing house, they hosted a banquet for Fang Xinghe and his entourage to eat abalone.

During the meal, Fang Xinghe showered him with compliments, which was quite amusing.

Fang Xinghe really wanted to ask directly, "Why were you all so arrogant before and so obsequious now?"

But then I thought it was kind of boring, so I just kept showing off.

After enjoying a delicious meal, when it came time to get down to business, Wang Bin was still at the forefront, with the counselor sitting in the rear, while innocent Xiao Fang watched the show with a smile.

In the end, nothing was agreed upon, and the other party, holding their nose, asked, "Mr. Fang, how many more days are left in your trip to Singapore?"

He's getting anxious!

Brother Fang was also tough, and replied with a smile, "I'll leave tomorrow."

"Okay, have a safe trip!"

"must!"

The meeting ended unhappily.

Until Fang Xinghe took a nap and got up, neither the television station nor the print media reported on yesterday's accident.

It was as if nothing had happened.

There was no activity even online.

On the Singaporean internet, Fang Xinghe's photos can circulate normally, but mentioning yesterday's events will result in posts being deleted.

"Fang Xinghe confronted American soldiers for the sake of his fans," witnessed by thousands of people and photographed by more than a dozen amateur photographers, but the photos failed to spread online.

Before leaving, Fang Xinghe made a point of browsing the internet and quietly checked it out.

"Ha! You're quite nosy..."

Fang Xinghe sneered, feeling that this place was extremely boring.

Wang Chali comforted them, saying, "They can control things back home, but they can't control our family. We'll wait until we get back..."

"I know, let's go."

"Are we going to Japan as planned?"

"No, I'm going back to China."

The group arrived quietly and left peacefully, boarding a passenger plane back home and flying directly to the capital.

After landing, Fang Xinghe shook hands with Wang Bin to say goodbye: "Director Wang, thank you for your help."

"It's my job," Wang Bin said with a smile and a wink. "Wait for my news." Fang Xinghe went to visit friends and met with Wang Yali, Zhao Chunhua, Yu Hua, and other friends in the cultural circle. Around 3 p.m., Wang Bin sent back a message: "No! It wasn't approved!"

From that moment on, Fang Xinghe's phone kept receiving calls from various parties, discussing all sorts of things.

The producer of Focus Interview, Mr. Sun, had the most frank conversation with him.

"The footage you shot this time is of great value. It shows the spirit of our young idols who are not afraid of powerful forces, and that they have a sense of justice and fairness. After it is broadcast, it will greatly boost national self-confidence and self-esteem."

However, the CCTV Evening News represents the nation's ideology and will. Now that we are about to join the WTO, everything else must give way to this, and it is not appropriate for the official channels to touch on the sensitive nerves of Americans.

The nation has already tolerated the new US-China agreement and sacrificed a great deal for the greater good, so there's even less need to provoke us over such trivial matters. That's not the proper way to do things..."

Fang Xinghe's anger flared up instantly.

He finally understood the anger and helplessness of outspoken youth when facing the "big picture party".

Logically speaking, the other party is completely right.

In retrospect, the current forbearance has indeed brought about a glorious and prosperous era.

But as a hot-tempered individual, why should I put up with that humiliation?
Before Fang Xinghe could speak, President Sun suddenly changed his tune.

"But from your personal perspective, there's nothing wrong with recording the video, and there's nothing wrong with your ideas. You can do whatever you want with it. It's just that the news broadcast has refused to do so. You have many other channels!"

Xiao Fang, let me share my personal opinion with you.

The higher-ups probably really appreciate the emergence of a cultural icon like you, but that's precisely why they won't easily grant you official status.

I heard that your status as an outstanding member of the Communist Youth League was blocked at the General Office of the League, and the leaders discussed it specifically for you.

So if you want connections, the middle management is wary of your potential for harm, and the upper management doesn't see the need to give you any leverage, so you probably won't have a chance in the short term.

If you want freedom, then this is the best situation, because you are just a grassroots cultural fighter. Whether you are willful or rebellious, no one has the right to tell you what to do…

Fang Xinghe understood instantly.

In terms of influence and positive educational value alone, he could easily win a higher medal, and the other members would have an even easier time.

But the group leader just didn't give it to them.

Now it makes sense—the higher-ups never intended to incorporate him, because given the current situation, incorporation would be tantamount to suppression, meaning he couldn't do this or that, and they would have to be careful about the impact.

On the contrary, if you leave him to the general public, he will just be an ordinary individual who can do whatever he wants.

This is very similar to the situation in later generations—the state cannot be radical, but the people can clamor for war as they please to exert pressure on the outside world.

How much pressure has the surging anger among the Chinese people put on the public opinion environment and political ecology in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea?

Fang Xinghe, who has spent many years on the international internet, clearly felt that as the voices of our people to take action became more and more intense, the political actions of the surrounding regions became more and more conservative. This is a real and tangible influence.

So-called political wisdom is about making use of all advantageous forces.

"I understand."

Fang Xinghe's anger quickly subsided, and he replied with a smile, "Then I'll do it myself. Thank you for reminding me."

It's regrettable that the evening news program can't be broadcast, but having regained absolute autonomy, we might still find better ways to utilize it.

For example, as originally planned, we would produce a documentary called "The Road to Legend" and sell it on DVD to fans in developed regions such as Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore...

If we just add a couple more gimmicks, this thing is guaranteed to be a bestseller.

It's unnecessary to isolate the conflict and broadcast it on local TV stations; the impact is too small, and it's a waste.

Having figured this out, Fang Xinghe didn't stay in China for long. The next day, he boarded a plane again and arrived at the most important stop on the Asian tour of "Azure Night Snow"—Japan.

At this time, the Japanese version of "Azure Night Snow" had actually been released in Japan for more than half a month.

The cover features a photo of Fang Xinghe lying in the snow, looking up at the sky. Inside the book are fourteen individual "stills" in various poses—they were taken in the style of filming a drama, each corresponding to a scene and state.

The same large poster as the cover has been hanging in all Kadokawa Bookstore stores nationwide for a full two weeks.

The tagline on the poster reads: "The silence of snow, the sorrow of love, the bond of life and death, the extermination of the dark night."

Yes, it perfectly matches their adolescent emotional needs.

Apart from that, Kadokawa Tsuyoshi did not promote Fang Xinghe at all, especially his trip to Southeast Asia, which was kept completely secret.

He focused his attention on the novel "Cang Ye Xue" itself, keeping Fang Xinghe himself as a trump card to be released in the second or even third stage. Therefore, the illustrations were not labeled with any explanations and were placed there like an Easter egg.

On the first day of its release, only the Sankei Shimbun's book review column recommended "Azure Night Snow".

"A Love Requiem Sinking in the Snow - 'Azure Night Snow' Opens a New Dimension of 'Mono no Aware' in East Asia"

The very first move was imbued with the pathos of things; it just goes to show how well Kadokawa understands Japan.

The silence of snow and the disillusionment of love intertwine to create a literary monument of the Heisei era.

"The Snow in the Dark Night," written by Fang Xinghe, a 14-year-old prodigy writer from China, is by no means an ordinary youth novel, but a "tragic history" set in a snow country, which deeply touched my heart.

The love between the protagonists, Chen Cang and Lou Yexue, is as pure as fine snow, yet it is torn apart by the corrupt web of power. This story transplants the "aesthetics of destruction" from Kawabata Yasunari's "Snow Country" to the modern era, and further pierces reality with the sharp strokes of social realism, making it an absolutely stunning work.

Literary critic Masahiko Sato commented: "Snow is both the cradle of their love and the coffin of its burial. The snow scene in the decaying industrial area is reminiscent of the local cities after the bursting of the Heisei bubble, and is in line with the sense of powerlessness of the 'Lost Generation.' Chen Cang's revenge drama is like Yukio Mishima burning down the Golden Pavilion, where only by destroying beauty can beauty be saved—this contradiction strikes the heart."

The next day, the recommended media outlets changed to two.

The literary magazine "Bungei Shunju" published a book review by another prominent figure, which was still from the perspective of lamenting culture.

"The Snow in the Blue Night - A Narrative Poem Questioning the End of 'Mono no Aware' in the 21st Century"

A fusion of East Asian trauma and classical beauty.

The scene of Lou Yexue falling from the roof of the teaching building evokes memories of the "Parting on a Moonlit Night" in Murasaki Shikibu's *The Tale of Genji*. However, the innovation of this work lies in elevating tragedy to a struggle of "individual against system." The shadow of corrupt bureaucrats in the snow-covered city not only continues the social realism of Matsumoto Seichō's *The Sand Castle*, but also shocks readers with Fang Xinghe's uniquely radical ending.

Author Miyuki Miyabe lamented: "They vanish like snowflakes, but their traces remain. Chen Cang's tragic end, using chemical agents to perish alongside the powerful, echoes the impermanence of the Tale of the Heike. However, his choice was not 'destruction,' but an obsession with 'memory'—a poignant cry from young Chinese people for 'proof of existence.' And our young people are indulging in illusion day after day..."

Sankei Shimbun Culture Column:
"The Snow in the Blue Night is the last testament of Heisei Japan"

The bursting of the bubble, the employment ice age, the high suicide rate, and the systemic harassment of teenagers—these "negative memories" that we have sealed away have been written into a novel by a 15-year-old Chinese boy.

The individual's anger precisely pierces through clear-cut evil. This is undoubtedly a biting satire of Japanese society's habitual ambiguity and avoidance of responsibility.

Poet Shuntaro Tanikawa commented: "He is as cold as snow, yet as fiery as snow. This work is a requiem for all Asian youths burdened with loss."

……

A few simple short comments, but all the essential elements are there.

The economic recession that Japan has just experienced has been summarized as a lost decade. Although they do not know that they will continue to experience "lost twenty years" and "lost thirty years", the sense of oppression caused by the decline of the social environment is really touching the sensitive chords of the Japanese people.

When did young people in Japan start going crazy?
It roughly started from the moment the abandoned houses of the Heisei era appeared.

They don't seem extreme; they're quiet and don't bother anyone.

However, the essence of this situation is that they are firmly trapped, suppressed by reality, the outside world, and society, unable to move, so they eventually give up all ideas and become lazy and complacent, but this does not mean that they do not want to release themselves.

"The Snow in the Dark Night" provided them with a release.

Then, Fang Xinghe locked them back up at the end—the Japanese version has a twist ending.

This is so cruel, yet it also perfectly reflects the morbid state of Japanese society.

Therefore, "Azure Night Snow" undoubtedly became a hit, with its popularity increasing day by day. It was no longer just because the author was Fang Xinghe, but simply because the book itself touched countless young and middle-aged Japanese people.

This "devilish structure," which gives you ultimate pleasure and then slams you back into the abyss, has ignited the emotions of countless young Japanese people.

What's both absurd and not absurd is that they weren't angry; instead, they were extremely enthusiastic, declaring it a book that "spoke to the deepest part of my soul," "torn open my lungs," and that "I could cry a hundred times over and still feel happy."

Unexpected, isn't it?
Fang Xinghe hadn't expected this either.

He didn't consider the international market at all when he wrote this book, yet he achieved even greater success in Japan than in his home country.

The enthusiastic praise from the entire literary world and the passionate adoration from the whole society made him feel as if he were in a dream.

Seriously, is this book written for you guys?!
When Fang Xinghe finally arrived in Japan, "Cang Ye Xue" had already become a nationwide sensation in just half a month, becoming the hottest topic at the time.

The sales of 218 million copies are far from its limit.

At this time, the publicity campaign targeting Fang Xinghe himself had not even truly begun.

Japanese society is both very curious about and very confused about the Milky Way. Now, all that's left is one last opportunity to legitimately detonate the nuclear bomb.

To achieve maximum effect, Kadokawa did something unprecedentedly outrageous—

He rented the Tokyo Dome as the venue for Fang Xinghe's book signing event for "Azure Night Snow".

Yes, that's right. The Tokyo Dome, with a maximum capacity of 70000 people, was Fang Xinghe's first stop in Japan.

(End of this chapter)