After the Divorce, I Could Hear the Voice of the Future

"Are you getting used to the work?"

The next day at noon, Lu Liang came to Xingheng Investment and met Sakurada Miyuki, who was still in her internship period.

She's a senior this year and will soon be graduating, so last month, Lu Liang arranged for her to intern at Xingheng Investment.

"Not really," Miyuki said with a grievance, hugging Lu Liang's arm and venting.

In recent years, Xingheng Investment has conducted campus recruitment at Tokyo University every graduation season.

She joined the company during that time, so other than Wen Chao, no one knew her identity.

As a result, her daily tasks consisted of making tea, printing materials, and handling mail.

In Neon, companies generally have a lifetime employment system; employees can stay with the company as long as it doesn't go under.

Thus, the oppression of interns is quite severe, with companies treating them like drudges.

Even Xingheng Investment, which has been established for less than a year, exhibits this phenomenon, though it's more subtle.

Once, she saw a few interns invited out for a meal by a department head and then promptly got permanent positions.

After all, the salary and benefits at Xingheng are top-tier in Tokyo, so even Tokyo University students are eager to work there.

Lu Liang squinted, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "Our Miyuki is so pretty, has no one asked you out for a meal?"

"I've ignored them," Miyuki pouted proudly, then suddenly said forlornly, "That's why I've become the errand girl."

Lu Liang patted her head to calm her and asked, "Does Wen Chao know about this?"

He had planned to check in the morning but partied too hard last night and slept until noon.

Wen Chao waited for two hours but had a meeting he couldn't postpone, so he went ahead.

"I'm not sure, but President Wen has been very busy recently, often working overtime because we are acquiring Fuji TV."

Miyuki was fair, neither speaking for nor against Wen Chao, simply describing what she saw and heard for Lu Liang to judge.

"Sir, I should get going, or colleagues will start gossiping." She gave Lu Liang a hard peck and then got up to fix her outfit.

She was the tea girl in the reception room and the widely acknowledged flower of Xingheng; spending too much time alone with the big boss would inevitably raise suspicions.

"Not planning to stay with me a little longer?"

Lu Liang couldn't help but laugh and suddenly held Miyuki back, who looked conflicted: "Maybe after work? By the way, Mom knows you're here and got up early to buy groceries."

"Go on, work well, see you tonight." Lu Liang smiled, understanding Miyuki's hesitations.

The young woman was not just shy but also capable and didn't want colleagues to think she got in through connections.

Otherwise, she'd have complained about her tasks long ago instead of waiting until now.

"Alright then, sir, see you tonight." Miyuki smiled sweetly, her cheeks dimpling adorably.

As she walked out of the reception room, Lu Liang saw through the one-way mirror the lively newcomer to the workplace.

In a gray suit ensemble, looking tidy and professional, she smiled at everyone she saw, staying optimistic and open even while carrying a half-meter stack of files through the office area.

But Lu Liang wasn't the only one watching Miyuki; he caught a cold gleam in his eye as he glanced at Sato Yuuya, seated at an independent workstation.

At thirty-six, the department supervisor was still working at Xingheng Investment, earning an annual salary of 12 million yen, undeniably a young talent.

If he wasn't eyeing Miyuki and was merely leveraging against interns, Lu Liang might just dismiss him; but since he dared eye his person, Lu Liang wouldn't let him off lightly.

Just then, the conference room door opened, and Wen Chao hurriedly arrived after greeting some people along the way.

"Mr. Lu, sorry, the meeting took much longer than expected," he began discussing the meeting's content.

With Mitsui Sumitomo's help, they'd clarified Fuji TV's debt relations and were preparing to initiate an acquisition.

They were just discussing who should handle the projects and post-acquisition arrangements for Fuji TV personnel.

Lu Liang listened quietly and was satisfied with Wen Chao's arrangements, but suddenly brought up Miyuki's experiences.

Wen Chao froze, looking out at Sato Yuuya through the window with a guilty expression: "Mr. Lu, that's my negligence, I'm willing to be penalized."

Lu Liang smiled and asked, "How do you think you should be penalized?"

Wen Chao pondered the severity of the matter and said after a while: "Deduct the whole year's bonus."

The severity of the issue wasn't too high, but he didn't want to just have a drink penalty because he indeed bore responsibility.

"A whole year's bonus is a bit much, let's just deduct half a year," Lu Liang said with a satisfied smile.

"Thank you, Mr. Lu."

"So how do you plan to handle this?"

Wen Chao observed Lu Liang's expression and suddenly laughed, countering, "Mr. Lu, what do you think should be done?"

Normally, the highest penalty for Sato Yuuya would be dismissal, but due to Neon's peculiar system, the company might even have to offer him a severance payout. Considering the involvement of Boss Lu's little girlfriend, he was unsure how to proceed.

Lu Liang glanced at him, chuckling lightly: "The company's preparing to acquire Fuji TV, so transfer him to the most lucrative department."

Understanding dawned on Wen Chao's face: "Okay, Mr. Lu."

The severance payout was a small sum, but Lu Liang wanted to ensure Sato Yuuya didn't receive it, and he wasn't about to let it go easily.

A market research section head daring to leverage against interns—transferring to a significant department involved in a billion-dollar acquisition project would be putting a rat in a grain store.

This move had another name: fishing enforcement.

This way, not only would there be no payout, but they'd also be able to make him bankrupt and then send him to the sewing machine workshop.

"Mr. Lu, that was a great move; it'll set an example." Wen Chao smiled broadly, flattering him.

Lu Liang gave him a glance, looking out at the busy Miyuki outside: "Transfer her to the acquisition team, and once the acquisition is complete, make her permanent, then let her remain at the grassroots for about a year or two."

"Okay, Mr. Lu."

Wen Chao nodded, keeping the matter in mind.

Lu Liang pondered briefly and added, "Once the Fuji TV acquisition is complete, see if there's a suitable investment bank, and just acquire it too."

Acquiring Delimei had given him a taste of success, and he knew there were more benefits to come.

With the Bund Financial Summit around the corner, Lu Liang had been studying Old Ma's path and found it quite feasible.

But this path didn't suit Old Ma or East Country; rather, it was just right for him.

Upgrading the fund to an investment bank was a perfect professional fit, and he also had inherent funding advantages.

As a saying goes:

Rushing about daily just to stave off hunger, once fed, then crave clothing.

Having both clothes and food, then want a beautiful wife.

Marry a lovely wife who bears children, then bemoan a lack of land and roots.

Acquire land expansively, then lament transport lacks boat and steed.

Once stocks a stable with mule and horse, then complain of no position, scorned by others.

Though a county clerk is too humble, yearn to wear purple in the court.

Question Old Ma, understand Old Ma, become Old Ma, surpass Old Ma, Lu Liang wanted to see how far he could go if he walked this path himself.

"Okay, Mr. Lu!"

Wen Chao responded a third time, but unlike before, this time was firm, even slightly trembling.

For he understood that with Lu Liang acquiring Delimei, the most crucial piece of the puzzle for becoming an international consortium was completed.

If he could witness firsthand in his lifetime the rise of an international consortium from nothing,

then he'd consider this life not wasted.

By evening, Lu Liang was yawning, waiting at the Tokyo subway entrance.

Watching Miyuki greet a few colleagues before entering at subway entrance A and then coming out at B.

She was nodding her head, running eagerly like a little duckling lost but then finding its mother again.

She opened the car door and sat beside Lu Liang in one swift move.

Lu Liang chuckled: "Where's your car?"

He remembered there were three cars in the apartment garage; the Maybach was taken out, but there was still a Mercedes coupe and a minivan.

"In for repairs," Miyuki sheepishly admitted.

She had only driven once before, but just that first time, she crashed into a guardrail, sending it straight to be fixed.

Plus, Tokyo is so crowded that taking the subway is more convenient than driving.

"If it's broken, it's broken; you can't never learn,"

Lu Liang chuckled, calling Wen Chao to have another car sent over: "As long as you're okay, you'll learn after crashing a few more times."

Miyuki pouted, surprised into speaking her hometown dialect: "Mama Mia~"

Lu Liang spoke earnestly: "Your mom's going back home, and I'm not often here; learning to drive yourself is definitely good."

Miyuki pouted, but she didn't object, knowing that Lu Liang had her best interests at heart, but she wanted to buy the car herself.

Buy an inexpensive Toyota or Honda, sturdy and not too heart-wrenching if it's damaged.