After the Divorce, I Could Hear the Voice of the Future
Chapter 512 - 507: Better to Be Casual

"Little Lin, where's your hometown?"

Lu Liang took the skewers from Lin Yan's hand and called the front desk to order half a dozen beers, along with some snacks.

There were just a few skewers of meat and vegetables, not enough for one person, let alone the two of them.

"Fucheng, Bashu."

Lin Yan sat upright, suddenly feeling a bit worried.

She rushed out, unsure if her makeup was well done; she wished she had worn her contact lenses too.

"Shu has been known for beautiful women since ancient times, and it's true indeed."

Lu Liang smiled faintly. He seldom used the term "wealthy woman" to describe a woman's looks because no matter how wealthy she was, she wasn't wealthier than him.

But Lin Yan truly had the typical look of a wealthy woman, born in 1987, thirty years old this year, with an oval face, willow-leaf eyebrows, and slightly thick lips.

If you pulled a stranger off the street to judge their wealth based on looks, without a doubt, Lin Yan would win.

She had the quintessential Jiangsu and Zhejiang "rich lady" look, especially with her slightly husky accent accentuating it.

"There are indeed many beautiful women in Shu, but I'm certainly not one of them." Lin Yan blushed, feeling a flutter in her heart.

Because Lu Liang was so direct, moving closer as he spoke, eventually placing both hands on her shoulders, his fingertips brushing against her cheek.

"Have you been single all these years, Little Lin?" Lu Liang leaned down, cheek to cheek, speaking softly.

"During sophomore year, I had a boyfriend for over five years, but we broke up for some reasons."

Lin Yan panted slightly, her fists clenched: "Later, I was transferred to the international department, and after that, I was either working or abroad, so I didn't date anyone else."

"Didn't your family urge you?"

Lu Liang's hands on her shoulders slowly slid down, passing her arms until they landed on her clenched fists, gently uncurling them to ease her tension.

"I have an older brother and sister at home, both married, only I am left. My parents often urge me, but without meeting the right one, their urging is useless."

Lin Yan noticed his large hand holding hers, their fingers intertwined, his fingers remarkably thick, at least 1.5 times hers.

"Have you met the right one now?" Lu Liang's lips turned up with a smile, pulling Lin Yan from the table to the living room.

He casually picked up the hotel landline phone; as long as no calls came through, no one would disturb them later when they were busy.

"I guess I've met them."

Lin Yan hummed softly, collapsing onto the sofa, always glancing elsewhere, not daring to meet Lu Liang's gaze.

Like an egg being peeled, her clothing fell away piece by piece, revealing skin as white as mutton fat jade.

Her skin was smooth and white, and even without squeezing, a deep chasm was visible.

Lu Liang realized her figure was much better than he thought, usually hidden under rigid uniforms; if she wore form-fitting yoga clothes, she would look very sexy.

"Meeting them means meeting them, no 'I guess' about it." Lu Liang understood what she meant.

But at this moment, they could skip that topic because continuing might not bring happiness.

Just that in the process, he encountered a slight obstacle.

Despite showing surprise, and tears shimmering in Lin Yan's eyes, the bow was drawn and had to be released.

He silently sympathized with her ex-boyfriend for a second.

...

"What do you think?"

Afterward, Lu Liang sighed softly, his emotions waning, with his intellect regaining its ground.

There was a time when he liked pure women, but with a few encounters, he gradually lost interest.

After all, he wasn't marrying them as wives, just passersby in each other's lives, why bother so much.

And his side had to overly cater to their emotions, not enjoying but serving.

Lin Yan clutched the comforter, a faint tear stain at her eye, her face full of tenderness: "I always thought a girl's first time should be saved for the wedding night, with everyone ready, living together happily ever after."

"He couldn't wait for you, so you broke up?" Lu Liang asked.

"It's partly because of that; I was always waiting for his proposal, but he never wanted to."

Lin Yan's tone was calm as if recounting someone else's story. Time had passed, and she had moved on.

Lu Liang sighed: "You started dating in sophomore year, just two years after graduation when life and income were unstable."

Lin Yan remained silent: "For a man to settle down, he has a lot to consider, which I didn't understand back then."

Later, she understood and tried to reconnect, but once those people and things were missed, they wouldn't come back.

"I'm not good to settle down with." Lu Liang whispered, never denying his enjoyment of fooling around.

"I know you have many girlfriends and even a cute daughter." Lin Yan smiled.

Holding onto Lu Liang's arm: "I won't disturb you or enter your life; think of it as compensation."

She lost a boy who once liked her very much and genuinely cared, knowing she wouldn't have such a thing again in this life.

Might as well just go with it, giving her first time to Lu Liang, who helped her the most, and accompany him a few years.

Once enough savings were made to live the rest of her life, she'd resign and seek poetry and distant lands.

Lu Liang was astonished: "You're more carefree than I am."

"Maybe." Lin Yan looked up at Lu Liang, full of expectation: "One more time?"

She knew Lu Liang wasn't truly carefree, using a promiscuous private life to vent work pressures.

"Sure, but don't scream that it hurts again."

"Got it~"

The next morning, Lu Liang awoke from his sleep.

The person beside him had disappeared, only some strands of hair left on the white pillow, proving last night wasn't a dream.

Freshening up, he went downstairs for breakfast, seeing Lin Yan and a few flight attendants having their meal.

"Good morning, Mr. Lu."

They quickly stood up to greet him.

Lu Liang nodded slightly, looking at Lin Yan.

The two exchanged smiles, everything understood without words.

They dined across a corridor from each other, overhearing whispers from her table.

"Yan, how do you maintain your skin? It's one thing to be pale, but how is it getting better?"

"Now that you mention it, it's unreal. I always thought anti-aging was a lie."

Lin Yan's cheeks flushed slightly, refuting: "No way, don't talk nonsense, maybe it's just colder today."

Lu Liang chuckled quietly, leaving the hotel after breakfast, heading to Douyin on an invitation.

Since Douyin Store launched over the National Day, there was a saying online that the end of the universe is selling goods.

Getting a haircut labeled him a sucker by the barbershop, but after media exposure and online viral spread, he started selling goods.

Encountering a deceitful landlord while renting, receiving media interviews, and going viral online due to a hot body meant selling goods followed.

Even Panda's influence led entertainers across the spectrum to find a new flow-to-cash channel.

With the rapid development of the e-commerce sales sector, Douyin Store's turnover in two months surpassed Panda's annual total.

The company's valuation soared to 45 billion dollars, with Lu Liang holding 7.07% share, valued at 3.181 billion dollars.

This visit was for meetings,

with the agenda being a five-year strategic plan.

Zhang Yiming and Yang Zhenyuan took turns speaking extensively, yet didn't mention a listing plan or timing.

The investors frowned, despite Zhang Yiming's grandiose talk of high profitability and abundant cash.

Yet, without dividends or listing, they had no way to quickly cash out.

Feeling the mood dip, Zhang Yiming glanced at Lu Liang for help: "Mr. Lu, would you like to say a few words?"

Lu Liang chuckled, pondering for a moment before saying: "Let's see how it develops in five years, Douyin still has untapped potential."

Though Zhang Yiming essentially didn't want to relinquish control, his words held truth; Douyin Store was just launching, and overseas was still a blue ocean.

Right now, listing or financing would undervalue their stakes.

DiDi at 50 billion dollars, Meituan at 52.4 billion dollars, Douyin's potential surpasses theirs.

Someone suddenly said: "Mr. Lu, it's easy for you to say; you invested in the seed round, while we are later investors facing significant capital and other pressures."

"Sorry, I have a lousy memory. What's your name?" Lu Liang was puzzled, believing himself fair, wondering why he'd been criticized.

"Mingyi Capital, Zhao Wenqi," the person said.

Lu Liang thought for a moment, really having no impression, and unsure how he'd offended the person, he laughed: "Mr. Zhao, since your firm's under financial pressure, how about I buy your shares with a 5% premium?"

He didn't bother thinking about how he'd offended them.

After all, he'd offended plenty in the past; if he didn't remember them, they weren't significant enough for him to keep track.