After the Divorce, I Could Hear the Voice of the Future
Chapter 403 - 400: The False Anniversary

"Siyuan, why is it only you?"

Lu Liang arrived on the fifteenth floor, only to find Li Jiahui and Zheng Yaowen gone, leaving Qin Siyuan alone at the computer.

Qin Siyuan greeted him with a polite smile and looked at the screen, "They went out to conduct experiments, and I'm responsible for backend monitoring."

Suddenly, the sound from a speaker came through with Zheng Yaowen's voice, "Siyuan, the vehicle's algorithm needs further optimization. There were a few instances where it couldn't recognize properly. I think we should prioritize visual technology in the future.

Radar can only be used as an auxiliary, but it's more sensitive than visual technology, and the feedback is more timely.

We could develop an emergency evasion feature similar to what Volvo has."

He and Li Jiahui were strolling nearby in a Li Xiang ONE, sending all the driving data back to the backend in real-time.

As developers of the Tianxing Car Machine, they were more demanding than average car owners—one drove while the other took notes.

The Tianxing Car Machine had already acquired all the L2-level driving assistance features last week, and they had been continuously optimizing and perfecting it, aiming for L3-level assistance.

"Yaowen, we're on the same page. We'll focus on visual with radar as an auxiliary. Perhaps we could develop two sets of built-in subsystems."

Qin Siyuan implied that Lu Liang was at the company, and if they hadn't gone too far, they could come back first.

He had worked in many large factories over the years, and Lu Liang was undoubtedly the most enlightened boss he had ever seen.

Although oftentimes, Lu Liang could be unreasonable, only caring about results with no consideration for the difficulties in project implementation.

But Lu Liang had a significant advantage that no previous boss could match—if you needed money, he'd give it, and if you needed resources, he'd find a way.

Not like other leaders who would expect the horse to gallop without feeding it hay, always slashing the budget while raising demands.

"Keep busy then, and be safe on the road. I've got something else to do, so I'll head off first."

Lu Liang always respected talent; before them, he was Little Lu, showing none of the boss's airs.

However, this respect was limited to tech talents. Turning his head, he called for Hu Weiwei, "Find a nearby restaurant to book out. From now on, besides various subsidies for overtime, we'll also provide a free late-night meal."

Close to eleven o'clock, there were still many people working overtime in the company. Several takeaway lockers at the entrance of the seventeenth floor were gradually becoming filled.

Big companies had their own night canteens, but as they rented three floors for their offices, there was no place to have a canteen.

It wasn't a problem during the day as there were many takeaway vendors around Zhongguang Village with relatively healthy and hygienic food options.

At night though, even though there were many 24-hour takeaway stores, if they had done better business during the day, they wouldn't stay open overnight.

And the taste and hygiene would definitely be a notch lower.

What other big company programmers had, they must have as well. They wouldn't allow others to have something they didn't.

"Understood, Mr. Lu."

Hu Weiwei nodded and hurried to make arrangements.

Ever since Lu Liang and the Su City Government co-hosted a press conference, the valuation of Tianxing Technology had soared.

It broke through 3 billion US dollars, becoming a rising unicorn company.

She owned 3.6% of the company shares, worth 108 million US dollars, surpassing the stake she once held in Mobike.

Hu Weiwei always felt undeserving, even if she owned shares that didn't pay dividends.

Therefore, she came very early and left very late every day, all to repay Lu Liang for his recognition and opportunity.

As the night deepened, Lu Liang returned to Phoenix City by Sanyuan Bridge.

Having too many houses was a kind of trouble. It was fortunate that Zhang Tian'ai's address from last time hadn't been deleted, or he probably wouldn't be able to find the specific floor and apartment number.

It seemed she was asleep, as it took several rings of the doorbell before hurried footsteps could be heard from behind the door.

It sounded like she was still wearing high heels, click-clack, the heels hitting the floor crisply.

Click, the door opened.

A purple high-slit long dress and a pair of beige Valentino stiletto shoes dazzled with shimmering rivets on the straps.

Her hair, in big waves that he liked, was dyed a light burgundy, with light makeup and red lipstick, exuding the glamorous allure of a mature woman.

He pushed the door open and took off his coat, "Why are you still wearing high heels at home in the middle of the night? Practicing for the red carpet?"

Zhang Tian'ai gave a smile, took the coat and hung it on the hanger, explaining in a word the reason for her appearance, "A woman dresses for the one who pleases her."

Lu Liang sat by the door to change his shoes and beckoned, and Zhang Tian'ai, understanding the gesture, strode over and sat on his lap.

Her dress was cut high, almost to the waist. Lu Liang cupped her buttocks and felt a slender string.

Zhang Tian'ai wrapped her arms around Lu Liang's neck and kissed his ear, "Why don't you go shower first, and I'll get things ready?"

She looked towards the bay window, where on a small coffee table, two tall wine glasses and an ice bucket with several bottles of chilled white wine awaited.

"Good times demand some preparation indeed."

Lu Liang chuckled lightly and patted his behind, signaling Zhang Tian'ai to get up and head straight to the bathroom.

A set of soft, short-sleeved pajamas had been prepared for him, neatly folded in the wardrobe.

"Little Love, why have you made tonight's setting so romantic?"

A few minutes later, Lu Liang emerged from the bathroom.

Seeing the sight of the bedroom, his lips curved slightly upward.

There were no lights on in the bedroom, just a string of colored lights pasted around the bay window, casting a gentle, suggestive glow.

The bay window space wasn't large, just 2.5 meters by 1.2 meters.

Zhang Tian'ai, with a beaming smile, was sitting cross-legged, gently swaying her toes in time with the rhythm of the wine glass she held, her expression serious: "Today marks the two-year anniversary of when we met."

"Has it been that long already?"

Lu Liang exclaimed in surprise, sitting on the other side of the coffee table.

Even though he had paid for this apartment, it was Zhang Tian'ai who had personally chosen it. Unlike the living room which faced the direction of the residential community, the bedroom bay window looked out onto Liangma River.

The view from the nineteenth floor was superb, offering a panorama of Beijing's cityscape, with even the distant Chaoyang Park visible.

"So you've already forgotten."

Murmuring softly, Zhang Tian'ai continued, "Actually, it hasn't been that long. We just missed it last year, so I'm celebrating it in advance this year."

Lu Liang was dumbfounded: "I remembered it was sometime in October, wasn't it?"

Zhang Tian'ai's eyes lit up: "So you do remember?"

"How could I forget? The little nobody from back then has now become a highly sought-after big star."

Lu Liang smiled. The first time he had met Zhang Tian'ai was after the wrap-up of Crown Princess Consort.

Back then, he was shorting Tesla and faced off with Wilson for the first time, which was quite memorable.

"Back in Hengdian, I struggled for so many years. It was my first time as a lead actress. After the crew wrapped up, the director took us to meet the investors."

Zhang Tian'ai seemed to be reminiscing about that period. Before shooting Crown Princess Consort, her life had been tough.

Although she occasionally landed a few supporting roles, life in Hengdian was costly, and income was unstable.

Often, she would buy boxes of instant noodles in advance, just to have something to eat in case she didn't get a role.

It wasn't until after filming Crown Princess Consort and meeting Lu Liang that her life began to change dramatically.

Lu Liang had shielded her from the pressures of her talent agency and helped her join the Happy Mahua Team.

Her breakout role in First Rich made her a bona fide film actress, and Zhang Chen, eager to curry favor with Lu Liang, had supported her persistently, helping her rise to become a popular second-tier actress.

Suddenly, Zhang Tian'ai drained her glass in one gulp and extended her slender arms to hug Lu Liang's neck tightly, breathing out the smell of alcohol: "I'm sorry."

For the past month, she had hesitated over whether to cook up a scandal with a male star to cut ties with Lu Liang.

Now that she had fame and fortune, she craved more, like a relationship that didn't have to be hidden, one that could be blessed by the public.

But after much deliberation,

she ultimately abandoned the idea.

Hence tonight's celebration, which wasn't really about celebrating their two-year anniversary in advance—it was just that she felt so guilty for having thought about it and wanted to make up for it.

"What are you apologizing to me for?"

The smile on Lu Liang's face remained as he embraced her slim waist, faintly feeling the developing lines of her defined abs.

"I had a really bad idea," Zhang Tian'ai confessed, yet she didn't disclose what it was.

"Did you put it into action?" Lu Liang's eyes narrowed.

"No."

"Then it's as if you had no idea at all."

"Thank you for trusting me so much."

Zhang Tian'ai caressed him, removing Lu Liang's overcoat, and sucking on his earlobe, releasing her emotions at that moment.

After a while, she panted softly and mumbled unclearly, "Let's go back to bed."

"Don't you think the view here is pretty good?"

Lu Liang revealed a playful smile, kicked the coffee table out of the way, and drew the curtains closed like bed drapes of old.

The two of them went from sitting to standing, with Zhang Tian'ai pressed halfway against the glass window.

If the view outside the window wasn't the Liangma River but another residential building, residents on a similar floor would be able to see it.

Two round moons, at times large and at times small, with mist gradually filling the air, leaving palm prints one after another on the entire window.