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

Roppongi, Kanzaki Apartment.

"Mom, we're back."

Miyuki entered with Lu Liang, holding his arm. She still kept her school habit; whenever she got home, she would shout.

"Go wash your hands and face, dinner's ready." Erii said while walking out from the kitchen, wearing an apron.

Seeing Lu Liang, she showed a gentle smile and bowed: "Mr. Lu, welcome home."

"Mrs., long time no see."

Lu Liang nodded with a smile, feeling every time he saw Erii, that time never diminishes beauty.

Young Erii must have been more beautiful than her daughter. Though time marked her face with wrinkles, it also left a clarity and poise accumulated over half a lifetime.

"Tonight's dishes are quite sumptuous."

Lu Liang was briefly lost in thought but quickly shifted his attention from Erii to the dining table.

A bowl of hot soup, two plates of cold appetizers, and three main dishes.

If dining out, it wouldn't be considered that plentiful, but here at home, with only three dining.

Having washed her face, Miyuki came out of the bathroom, puffing: "Because mom has booked a ticket for tomorrow morning back to Kumamoto."

She still couldn't understand; although her grandparents were getting older, her uncle and aunt were home.

Even if her mom wants to visit them, it's just an hour's flight away. Why insist on staying there long-term?

Can't she see, once she's gone, and with Lu Liang not often in Tokyo, it will just be her alone from now on.

Miyuki held Lu Liang's hand, acting spoiled: "Mr. Lu, can you please persuade mom for me?"

Before Lu Liang could speak, Erii suddenly said: "Miyuki, you're grown up now and should try living independently. Mom wants to have her life too."

Her tone was very decisive, not open for discussion, even sounding a bit hurtful.

"So you always saw me as a burden?" Miyuki widened her eyes, tears glistening, unable to believe such words would come from the mother who always loved her.

Erii dared not meet her gaze, only turning her head aside: "Mom just wants to live quietly by herself for a while."

She couldn't bear to say something too cruel, but Miyuki felt like mom always saw her as a burden.

"Mr. Lu, can we go out for a walk?"

Miyuki bit her lip, tears welling up, looking at Lu Liang as her last dependable person.

"Alright." Lu Liang nodded, and as soon as he spoke, Miyuki pulled him, heading towards the door without looking back.

Before leaving, Lu Liang glanced at Erii, seeing tears in her eyes, looking desolate.

Lu Liang sighed but then smiled self-deprecatingly, almost feeling that he had orchestrated this situation entirely.

Two years ago, when he first had the idea of nurturing Miyuki, he had spoken with Erii alone, hoping she'd leave.

Once she left Tokyo, Miyuki would lose her reliance, and Lu Liang could control her better.

Parental love boundless as pity, Erii understood Lu Liang's intent and cooperated knowingly, choosing to be the bad guy.

A Maybach left the apartment, moving away from downtown, driving along the Tokyo Bay coastline.

"Does mom really see me as a burden?" Miyuki choked, still unable to accept this fact.

"Perhaps Mrs. Lu has her own reasons." Lu Liang stopped the car on the roadside, hugging her, gently comforting.

"What could possibly be her reasons? She's rejecting me. She's abandoning me, so I'll also abandon her."

Tears hung at the corner of Miyuki's eyes, looking pitifully at Lu Liang: "Mr. Lu, you wouldn't abandon me too, would you?"

"I'll always be with you." Lu Liang replied softly.

Miyuki hummed a response, snuggling closer to Lu Liang, wishing to merge with him, indistinguishable.

The car remained silent for quite a while before Miyuki suddenly asked: "Mr. Lu, I heard after drinking, all unpleasant things can be forgotten, is that true?"

Lu Liang spoke softly: "It doesn't erase them, just temporarily numbs the mind. When sober, come morning, troubles still linger."

"I'd like to try, can I?"

"I'll take you."

Leaving Tokyo Bay, Lu Liang took Miyuki to Shinjuku's Ge Wuji Town Ichiban Street.

Randomly choosing a bar along the way, Miyuki observed the indulging young men and women like a curious child, clinging tightly to Lu Liang's sleeve, fearing she might get lost.

Although Lu Liang hadn't been here before, bars across the world were essentially similar.

Leading Miyuki to the second floor, he called over the manager, glanced at the menu, and drew a circle in the air: "Negroni for everyone, and bring me a microphone, I want to say a few words."

"?"

The manager hesitated, thinking he misheard. Negroni, the cocktail, is also known as "everything is just right."

Even in a small tavern in the outskirts of Tokyo, a glass costs no less than 2000 yen, let alone in Shinjuku's Ge Wuji Town, a massive money-squandering pit.

Calculating roughly, with six hundred people in the bar, each drink costing 4800 yen, conservatively spending three million yen.

"We might need you to place an order first..."

The bar manager hadn't finished speaking.

A middle-aged fat man hurriedly came over, beaming: "Mr. Lu, I didn't expect it really is you..."

Lu Liang nodded slightly, interrupting him, and directly took out a bank card: "Go ahead, arrange it quickly."

The fat man smiled awkwardly, learned of Lu Liang's request, and quickly scolded the manager: "Hurry up and get it done."

The manager widened his eyes, also recognizing Lu Liang, sweat pouring down like rain, and quickly bowed: "Mr. Lu, private Marseille..."

Lu Liang responded nonchalantly, waved his hand: "You all go busy yourselves, don't come over and disturb me if there's nothing."

Both nodded repeatedly, leaving a waiter at the door ready at all times, Miyuki tilted her head, puzzled.

Lu Liang chuckled: "You'll know soon enough."

As soon as he finished speaking, the deafening music suddenly stopped, and the manager excitedly shouted: "Everyone, Mr. Lu from room 7 invites everyone to have a Negroni."

At these words, the cheers were earth-shattering.

Because everyone present knew a wealthy patron had arrived, and shouted: "Mr. Lu! Mr. Lu!"

The bar manager suitably said: "Folks, quiet down, this gentleman has a few words he'd like to share with you."

At that moment, the waiter outside respectfully handed over a microphone, showing a gesture of invitation.

"Hello, hello." Lu Liang tested the mic, looked at Miyuki: "My girlfriend's name is Miyuki, she's feeling down today, can you all wish her happiness every day?"

Each cocktail at 4800 yen, just for a blessing, they naturally wanted to satisfy Mr. Rich.

The bar manager took the lead in shouting: "Meixue, wish you happiness every day."

One shout and multiples respond, the entire bar of hundreds shouted Miyuki's name, wishing her daily happiness.

Lu Liang smiled, touching Miyuki's cheek: "See, so many people hope you can feel happier."

Miyuki's eyes welled up with tears again, she wrapped around Lu Liang's neck, bit his lips: "Mm-hmm, I will."

As night deepened, a legend spread in Ge Wuji Town, about a wealthy patron who spent billions of yen overnight to cheer up his girlfriend, and finally waived all bills.

There were rumors that the man with the surname Lu was a super-rich from East Country, but this could not be confirmed.

At four-thirty in the morning, Lu Liang carried the drunken Sakurada Miyuki back to Kanzaki Apartment in Roppongi.

The lights in the apartment were still on, a silhouette lay on the table in the dining room, Erii awoke in surprise when she heard the noise.

Lu Liang looked at her haggard face, sighed: "Miyuki was very sad, so I took her out for some drinks."

Erii remained silent, patting Miyuki's cheek: "Sir, let me help her wipe her face."

Lu Liang carried Miyuki to the bedroom, passing through the living room, seeing several suitcases: "What time is the flight."

"Seven ten, I'll probably have to leave at five." Erii's face showed a forced smile.

She hurried to the bathroom, filled a basin with warm water, handed Lu Liang a warm towel, and carefully wiped Miyuki's cheeks and hands and feet.

"Stay another half hour, and I'll have the driver take you over." Lu Liang's face was calm, without false pretenses to keep her.

"Thank you, sir."

Erii sat at the bedside, looking at Miyuki, as if trying to keep her image firmly in her mind.

Her unannounced departure will inevitably deepen the mother-daughter conflict, this farewell might be forever.

Seeing this scene, Lu Liang felt uncomfortable, sighed: "Madam, I'm very sorry."

"Sir, you needn't blame yourself."

Erii smiled slightly: "Without you, we don't know what we would've become, I am willing."

Lu Liang took out a bank card: "There are two million US Dollars in here, please accept it, if life back home is very difficult, Miyuki will also worry in Tokyo."

"Thank you." Erii put away the bank card, looked at the time, and glanced at Miyuki: "Sir, I must go."

"Let me see you off." Lu Liang walked to the door, contacted Fang Shiyu, and had him escort Erii to the airport.

At the parting moment, a trace of reluctance inevitably appeared in Erii's eyes, she couldn't help but say: "Sir, can I ask you for a favor?"

"Go ahead."

"Please take care of Miyuki from now on."

"I will take good care of her."

Lu Liang watched Erii leave.

Then returned to Miyuki's room, lay beside her, crossing his arms over his chest, unable to sleep for a long time.

He still has a kind heart, prone to feeling guilty, but even if given a few more chances, he would still choose to do this.

Tokyo is the bridgehead in East Asia, even more important than Xiangjiang, Lu Liang hopes no slip-ups will occur.

After tonight, Sakurada Miyuki will become his top candidate representative in Tokyo.

Lu Liang will also spare no effort to train her, until she can handle everything independently.